Photography exhibition documents how national historic events have shaped the North East

Published Monday, 16th May 2022

A fascinating new exhibition documenting the changes to the social, demographic and political landscapes of the last 35 years has opened in Hartlepool.

The free exhibition - ‘Macromancy: Britain and the North East of England 1986 to 2022’ - by British documentary and editorial photojournalist Mark Pinder is at Hartlepool Art Gallery in Church Square until Saturday 9th July.

The North East-based photographer, whose work is regularly featured in leading British news outlets including The Guardian and The Independent, has been at the forefront of breaking news for over three decades, capturing many events which have shaped recent British history.

Alongside his work for major national and international publications, he has chronicled social, political and economic changes and his latest exhibition offers a unique insight into the impact of those changes on the region.

Young Punk and his Dog, Fenham, Newcastle 1988

Young Punk and his Dog, Fenham, Newcastle 1988. Copyright Mark Pinder.

Nowhere are these changes more evident than in Hartlepool – a place which Mark Pinder has repeatedly been drawn to. Whether officially ‘on assignment’ for media outlets or visiting because of the fascination the town holds for him, the resulting images offer an insight into the effect that national events which have defined recent British history have had on the social, economic and cultural integrity of the North East.

Mark Pinder said: “I have spent the last 35 years documenting the seismic shifts in the cultural, economic and political fortunes of the North-East and Hartlepool features heavily in that narrative as a place that has often been very important to our understanding of the broader dynamics of where we find ourself as a country.”

Decommissioned Oil Platform Awaiting Dismantling, Seaton Carew November 2019

Decommissioned Oil Platform Awaiting Dismantling, Seaton Carew November 2019. Copyright Mark Pinder.

Angela Thomas, Art Gallery Curator at Hartlepool Borough Council, added: “We’re delighted to work with Mark on Macromancy - the exhibition paints such a compelling picture of life in the UK over the last three decades.

“Many of us will remember the events and stories that Mark has captured, but by bringing these images together for the first time we are given the unique opportunity to reflect on them as a whole and consider how they’ve shaped all of our lives.”

The exhibition, which is in collaboration with Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, has been arranged into four ‘chapters’ spanning 1986 – 2022, with people invited to revisit them and journey through the events that have shaped the last thirty-five years.

The art gallery is open 10am – 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. For more information call (01429) 869706 or visit www.hartlepoolartgallery.co.uk