RRB Photobooks is thrilled to introduce “Seven Hills,” the second publication featuring the work of Bristol-based photographer Chris Hoare. This inaugural edition includes a special limited run of 50 copies, each accompanied by a signed and exclusive print.
In “Seven Hills,” Hoare offers his distinctive perspective on Bristol, his hometown. Through his poetic imagery, he presents both the positive and negative aspects of the city, addressing some of the pressing issues it faces today while acknowledging its historical context. The book delves into Bristol’s widening class disparities, racial challenges, inequality, and homelessness.
Growing up on the city’s outskirts, Hoare has observed Bristol’s transformation from a distance. As the economic gap in the UK continues to widen, Bristol is no exception. The prosperous inner city is experiencing increasing gentrification, resulting in soaring property prices and rents that are unaffordable for many, forcing numerous residents to the city’s periphery.
Historically, much of Bristol’s wealth was built on its significant role in the slave trade. The toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston during the Black Lives Matter Protest in 2020 ignited a global debate on racism and inequality, not only in Bristol but also worldwide.
In response to the Colston statue’s removal, Hoare directs his lens toward his hometown, dissecting the city’s present-day inequalities and offering us a glimpse of his perspective on Bristol, from its outskirts to its prosperous core.