Huxley-Parlour is pleased to present Troubled Land, an exhibition by acclaimed British photographer Paul Graham, opening at Maddox Street gallery in January 2025. This exhibition features Graham’s evocative photographs taken between 1984 and 1986, capturing the complexities of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. Graham’s approach to the subject reframes the conflict through its landscapes, challenging and reinterpreting the conventions of British documentary photography.
In this series, Graham deliberately avoids overt depictions of violence. At first glance, the images appear to showcase ordinary towns: rain-drenched streets, rolling hills under overcast skies, and seemingly mundane settings. Upon closer inspection, however, subtle but potent symbols emerge—a curb painted in the Irish Tricolour, a Union Flag atop a tree, or a roadside stop-and-search scene tucked into the background of a coastal road. These fragments reflect the omnipresent tensions and divisions of a volatile and embattled region, where every detail becomes a marker of contested territory. Graham’s work reveals how the ‘Troubles’ seeped into every facet of life, from urban streets to rural landscapes.
In these images, the land itself becomes a battleground, imbued with political and cultural significance. Graham heightens the sense of tension through his focus on ‘territory,’ while rarely including human figures. Troubled Land occupies a unique space, straddling the genres of landscape and documentary photography. The landscapes themselves appear to embody the political discord, their features hinting at allegiances and unrest. This blending of styles creates a haunting narrative where the land speaks as much as the people it represents.
Technically, Graham’s approach to this series was both groundbreaking and controversial. At the time, British documentary photography predominantly employed black and white imagery, and the use of color for such a serious subject was considered unconventional. Yet, Graham’s pioneering choice of color photography marked a significant shift in the genre. His compositions, though innovative, also pay homage to the traditions of British documentary photography, featuring clean, functional framing, low horizons, and deliberate perspectives. The subdued color palette and absence of human subjects amplify the eerie silence that pervades the landscapes, making Troubled Land a poignant and restrained exploration of conflict.