Mappin Centenary Residency Exhibition by David A. Bailey

Solo show at Mappin Art Gallery, Weston Park. 1987
Date: 24 June, 1987 until 2 August, 1987
Curator: Michael Tooby and Matthew Conduit
Organiser: Mappin Art Gallery et al.

Cultural Productions Within Photographic Practices was the name given to an exhibition by David A. Bailey of work he produced during the Mappin Centenary residency at the Mappin Art Gallery and Untitled Photographic Gallery and Workshop (both in Sheffield). The exhibition ran from 24 June - 2 August 1987 and was accompanied by a small catalogue which contained a text by Bailey and a number of monochrome photographs. 

The opening paragraph of Bailey’s text within the catalogue touched on the rationale for the exhibition, and the point he felt he was now at, within his career as a photographer.

“The work within this publication and complementary exhibition makes a departure from one arena of my work leading to an investigation into another arena. By this idea of departure I’m talking specifically about my shifting from one photographic practice to another: that of exhibitions to residencies. In the past, my exhibitions have been of two forms (a) where you are commissioned for a one person show (a rare event in the black photographic community); (b) or you get invited to participate in a show with a number of artists, some photographic, others mixed visual art shows. Both forms of exhibiting have their good and bad points which I could debate at length. However, the point is that there comes a time when there is a need for a change from this form of exhibitionism (sic) and try and develop new ways of working. The residency was a chance for me to do this, where I had the time and resources to develop work with different groups. Most of all it gave me the opportunity to develop my own philosophical photographic theory into concrete practice within the local Sheffield community.”

»  Mappin Centenary Residency Exhibition by David A. Bailey

Catalogue relating to an exhibition, 1987