Photography isn’t just about capturing moments—it’s about exploring the deeper connections between memory, space, and the passage of time. The exhibition Processing the Past brings together the evocative works of photographers Kevin Percival and Tina Rowe, offering a compelling exploration of how photography can capture both the tangible and intangible aspects of human experience.
Tina Rowe’s Journey with Analogue Photography
Tina Rowe’s work in this exhibition stems from her residency at the British School in Athens during the early months of 2024. Immersed in a foreign environment, she experimented with a large format camera and chose to use paper instead of film, creating unique negatives. Her images delve into the contrast between two distinct spaces within the building—the vibrant library and the now-quiet hostel. Once a bustling hub for visiting academics and researchers, the hostel has fallen into a stillness brought on by the rise of alternatives like Airbnb. Tina’s photographs capture this transition, highlighting the subtle shifts in the building’s atmosphere and the silent echoes of its past.
Kevin Percival’s Documentation of Change
Kevin Percival’s contribution to the exhibition includes photographs from his recent Memory Bank project, a deeply personal documentation of the move of three national museums from their long-time home at Blythe House in West London. As he captures the gradual emptying of this grand and historic building, Kevin’s images evoke a sense of loss and the lingering presence of what once was.
In addition to Memory Bank, Kevin presents images from his residency on the remote Scottish island of Tanera, part of the Tanera (Ar Dùthaich) project. Here, his photographs focus on the relationship between people and their natural surroundings, capturing how the community becomes an integral part of the wild landscape.
Themes of Presence and Absence
Processing the Past examines how human presence—or absence—imprints on a space. In both Tina’s and Kevin’s work, there is a poignant exploration of what happens when people vacate a space, leaving behind traces of their existence. Whether it’s the quiet dormitories of the British School in Athens or the vast, empty corridors of Blythe House, these spaces are marked by the memory of those who once inhabited them.
Kevin’s images from Tanera contrast this with the idea of people being absorbed into their surroundings, becoming a part of the landscape itself. Meanwhile, Tina’s vegetable portraits, which also feature in the exhibition, reflect on human interaction with nature, showcasing the care and cultivation that leave a lasting impact.