Tales of Two Rivers Tales of Two Rivers Saturday 8 April 2017, Copthorne Hotel, Paradise Circus, Birmingham B3 3HG 10 (for 10.30 start) to 17.00. ÂŁ50, including teas/coffees and buffet lunch. RPS members and non-members welcome. To book see http://www.rps.org/ events/2017/april/08/tales-of-two-rivers 10.00 - 10.30 Meeting and greeting, Tea/coffee 10.30 - 12.30 Presentation by Yan Wang Preston 12.30 - 13.30 Lunch 13.30 - 15.15 Presentation by Polly Braden 15.15 - 15.45 Tea/coffee break 15.30 - 17.00 Discussion and review of attendee prints (up to ten max. per person)
Yan Wang Preston is a British-Chinese photographic artist whose landscape work is about challenging myths and revealing hidden complexities behind the surface of the landscape. In her major project Mother River she photographed the entire 6211km length of the River Yangtze at precise intervals of 100km. Since 2011 she has also been working on a project named Forest which is about urban trees and forests in China. She
has won numerous international awards and, among other venues, her work has been exhibited in Dubai Photo Exhibition, at the 56th Venice Biennale and at several venues such as the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum in China. Mother River will be shown at the Gallery of Photography Ireland, Dublin 28 Jan-5 Mar 2017 and Impressions Gallery, Bradford 31 Mar-24 June 2017. Yan Preston is currently completing a PhD based on her Mother River project at Plymouth University.
photo: Y25 2,400km from the river source. From ‘Mother River’ series (2010-2014). ©Yan Wang Preston
Yan Preston talks about her project Mother River, where she took large format photographs at intervals of exactly 100km apart, from its source to the sea, regardless of difficulties of the locations. There are 63 images in total.
photo: Y32 3,100km from the river source. From ‘Mother River’ series (2010-2014). ©Yan Wang Preston
Polly Braden is a documentary photographer who works on self-initiated projects as well as undertaking commissions for international publications. The project that led to the publication Adventures in the Lea Valley in 2016 was undertaken jointly with David Campany from 2004 onwards, when they first met. Her most recent work Great Interactions, Life with Learning Difficulties and Autism has been published by Dewi Lewis and was exhibited at the Media Museum, Bradford 27 Feb-10 Apr 2016. She has exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, at Format Derby and the Museum of London, among others. Her photography has appeared in many publications including The Guardian, The Sunday Telegraph magazine, Portfolio and Frieze. Polly Braden teaches at Westminster University and The Architectural Association.
photo: Inflatable Santa, New Year’s Day, 2005, Upper Lea Valley © Polly Braden and David Campany
Polly Braden talks on her joint project with David Campany, Adventures in the Lea Valley photo: Sunday Bikers on the site now occupied by the Olympic Stadium, 2005. © Polly Braden and David Campany