ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE
CARA MACNALLY
CARA MACNALLY IS A WHITSTABLE LOCAL AND PASSIONATE DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER WHO TRULY CAPTURES THE BEAUTY IN DETERIORATION IN HER WORK . SHE AIMS TO BRING AWARENESS TO A HOST OF WORLD ISSUES THROUGH HER STRIKING TRAVEL PORTFOLIO .
What led to you becoming a photographer ? I studied photography at Canterbury College and discovered my interest in deterioration when exploring an abandoned asylum in Chartham . Exploring these buildings and their history was so exciting to me . At college , I also fell in love with working in the darkroom where I created a project capturing Dreamland in Margate on 35mm film . After developing these images , I printed them onto old photographic paper from the 60s to give the prints an old and worn effect .
In what ways has growing up in Whitstable / Kent affected your vision as a photographer ? When I was young , I would take my camera down the beach where I live in Whitstable to capture the landscape . I was fascinated by seascapes and the reflections in the water . My love for exploration and the outdoors definitely plays a huge part in my photography . Living by the sea and open air has always been significant to me and my creativity , as it is great for you both mentally and physically .
What and / or who have been your biggest influences ? Why ? As I got older , I was obsessed with watching documentaries , particularly ones exploring unusual places and interviewing people . This is how I got into documentary photography and visual storytelling . One big influence would be my friend James Kerwin , who is an architectural photographer who captures relics all over the world .
I assisted him in Italy in 2018 after meeting at my university where he was a guest lecturer . Another influence of mine is Indigo Traveller , a YouTuber who visits misunderstood places around the globe and documents them for his channel . I am fascinated by his journey and the stories he has uncovered .
How has your work evolved since you graduated and began your professional career ? Since graduating from Norwich University of the Arts I have exhibited my photography locally , with my first successful show in Whitstable in 2021 where I showed my first Italian landscape series , Dimenticato in Italy , which explores the northern part of the country ; I also took this exhibition to York Street Gallery in Ramsgate . My curiosity for travelling and documenting new places has definitely grown since leaving university and I love being able to tell all of the stories behind my work to the people I meet at my exhibitions . Showing my work to the public has also boosted my confidence and encouraged me to keep pushing my practice forwards .
Is there an overriding theme that inspires your passion for photography ? How does this manifest in your art ? Deterioration is present within all of my work whether it is seen through decaying walls , deforestation or by highlighting animal welfare . For me the bottom line is always using my lens to raise awareness and bring attention to stories and important issues that I feel strongly about .
I am a very empathic person so I strive to create work that I can emotionally connect to and then share this with others .
Is there a particular project you ’ re most proud of ? Probably my first Dimenticato in Italy series ; I had no idea from before my first exhibition that it would get so much interest , which allowed me to exhibit the work in other places and eventually led to me going back to Italy four years later to shoot again , although this time in the south .
What ’ s next ? I will be exhibiting my second Dimenticato in Italy series from my time in the south . This work was captured in 2022 in over 50 new locations , all of which I visited within a three-week period . I am excited to share this new journey with the public . I am also currently developing my videography skills , as I plan to film my upcoming journeys and share them with others , which I am really looking forward to !
Where can we see / purchase your work ? I will be exhibiting Dimenticato in Italy II at The Fishslab Gallery from 21 - 27 August 2024 . This new limited edition series will explore the ruins of southern Italy and will have a private view on the evening of August 20 . If you would like to find out more , please just send me an email .
info @ caramacnally . co . uk www . caramacnally . co . uk
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