‘Portal’, an exhibition of the work of eight photographers from Cheltenham and beyond.

Scenes from a walk from Cheltenham to Luton; stunning portraits from the inhabitants of a Southern Italy town; meditations from a house that reveal a life lived in its walls; a survey of flamboyant sexual identity; the exuberant world of cheerleading; work printed on cardboard and lace exploring different sides of Digbeth near Birmingham.

These are some of the pieces presented by the talents, ideas and images of the most recent set of graduates from the University of Gloucestershire’s MA in Photography, on display in ‘Portal’, an exhibition of the work of eight photographers from Cheltenham and beyond.

Internationally acclaimed photographer and film maker Professor Richard Billingham who is one of the course tutors, says, “We are very proud of what our graduates achieve in their time on the MA and the amazing quality of work we see. We hope as many people as possible will come and join us for this celebration of their hard work and enjoy, as we have, their unique ways of seeing the world”

Alt Image Text: Two workers serve ice cream in an intricately designed gelateria. The aesthetic is symmetrical and meticulously curated, giving the appearance of order and control. The choice of colours and lighting give an overly sweet appeal not echoed in the workers’ body language.

The hand position of each is mirrored in the other, indicating a bond between the two subjects. Their uniform is reminiscent of the waffle and vanilla cones behind them, yet the ice cream they sell is concealed beneath the shiny surface.

On closer inspection one can notice minor irregularities like cones tilting, a handwritten sign, and marked aprons. Looking deeper reveals disquieting scars on the skin.

These details hold the frailty of the human experience which transcends the controlled environment we are initially presented with. The glass screen serves as a symbolic shield separating the ideal from the real.

Photo Credit: Stefania Distante