Feature by Northings
Matthew Hammond
3 May 2003 in Highland, Visual Arts & Crafts
Art of the Everyday
ANDREA MUIR profiles MATTHEW HAMMOND, the latest artist in residence at the Stables Gallery in Cromarty
MATTHEW HAMMOND is a 22 year-old photographer from Edinburgh who has become the first Artist in Residence for the 2004 season at The Stables in Cromarty. He will be in residence until 5th June, and hopes to produce one piece of work, which he will leave for the Cromarty Arts Trust Residency Collection. He also intends to work with the local community.
‘I’m particularly interested in the ‘everyday,’ says Matthew, ‘It is, to me, much more interesting than the ‘made up’ and photography gives a form of detachment that lets people see what is actually around them.’
Matthew completed his Honours Degree at NapierUniversityin 2003 and is currently building a collection of photographs as he travels around the country.
‘I know that I’m quite young to be working as a documentary photographer, so gathering experience is my mission for the next ten years, and I’m delighted to experience what Cromarty can offer me and hope I can give something back.’
‘One of my collections of photographs which I’ve worked on with others in various communities is ‘One Hundred Metres above Sea Level’. It shows a diverse cross section of life, all at same height. I suppose it’s a comment on the urban environment.
‘My work is very much concerned with people’s impact on the landscape, whether urban or rural – it can focus on graffiti on a bus window, or a burned-out car in a cornfield.’
When asked how he has managed to develop his work, he is frank:
‘I’ve listened to comments on my work and taken them on board, but I’ve also remembered to follow my own nose and go with my instincts. If I was giving advice to another photographer I think it is most important to keep taking photographs. It doesn’t matter what you’re producing. Some of it will be rubbish but keep going and the great pictures will come.’
A small selection of Matthew’s work will be exhibited in the Game Store at The Stables in Cromarty from 12noon to 2pm each day until 5th June. He will also be giving a talk about his work on Tuesday 1st June in The Royal Hotel, Cromarty at7.30pm. Visitors to The Stables will also be able to view the work of the other artists who have studios in The Stables.
© Andrea Muir 2004
