The White Cloth Gallery is the latest addition to the city’s ever expanding arts scene focusing on photography and filmmaking.
The new space in Aireside House which opens its door on Thursday April 19 is the brainchild of photojournalist Peter Dench and creative director Sharon Price, but isn’t it a big risk opening a photographic gallery in the teeth of a massive recession?
“Why not? In the mid ‘90s when I was a student in Derby the only way to see an exhibition was to get on a train and travel the length and breadth of the country to see for yourself. There was no work online, Twitter or Facebook, and I think people now expect the work to come to them.
“There is definitely a market for more localised spaces and I think Leeds is an exciting city, the people are headstrong and it is a challenge. I think it’s a good enough distance from London to find its own feet.
“We’re not in a position to commission new work so we’re trying to keep as many exhibitions on the road as possible, and Leeds is geographically and culturally a good location.
“It’s a very, very fluid space. We’ve got two main galleries, a film screening facility in one of them, a café in front and another cafe bar at the back which can host works. As one exhibition is going up another might be coming down, so people can come and have a sandwich and a look.”
The gallery is opening with a flourish with a UK first show of The Family by Jocelyn Bain Hogg. This new collection is a continuation of his critically acclaimed book The Firm that focused on the lives of larger than life characters and chancers in London’s underworld.
This time Jocelyn spent three year chronicling the lives of one family, The Pyles, whose father Joey featured in The Firm, but isn’t there a danger his work just glorifies their unconventional way of life?
“If you look at the pictures Jocelyn’s work is very real, and I thought looking at the pictures as we got them out of the boxes I wouldn’t want to emulate these people.
“I don’t think this show glorifies their way of life at all, it’s whispered conversations in clubs contrasted nicely with these individuals relaxing at home in their semi detached suburban houses.
“I don’t think the photos are glamorising or glorifying what they so, and if anything it’s quite a sensitive look at their way of life. It’s definitely not a follow up to The Firm, it is a progression and continuation of that work.
“It’s a ballsy choice to open the gallery and I think Jocelyn’s a good exemplar of the type of characters we enjoy and would like to work with.”
But White Cloth are not just about putting on big touring shows from world renowned names, they say they want to work with the best local photographers and up and coming talent.
“Without the people of Leeds, their commitment and their help and without their enthusiasm it will probably fail. It’s a big part of our plan to get the input of the universities and local artists, and the space is flexible enough to show their work.
“I don’t want White Cloth to be seen as just an outsourcing for London exhibitions, and the whole thing must be built around local talent which makes this city a good choice because of it’s unique character.”
*White Cloth Gallery is located at Aireside House, Leeds, LS1 2BH next to Leeds City station. Like them on Facebook at White Cloth Gallery or follow them @WhiteClothG