Kim Cunningham
Kim Cunningham
Kim Cunningham

Artist’s Statement:

Kim's photographic work explores a sense of identity and place in society, with particular reference to our environment.

The first project Kim undertook was documenting the village she grew up in, before she moved to London. It allowed me to look at the environment that shaped her, and address her mixed emotions.

A sense of belonging and fitting in is integral to living in a particular community, but it can also highlight feelings of separation and isolation. Our surroundings give us a sense of who we are, whether we choose to connect with them or not.

We are also represented by cultural symbols and traits with nostalgia playing a part in our notions of identity.

Although my images feature every day moments and situations, Kim wants to examine the connection with our environments, our cultural idiosyncrasies and also hint at the intangible. 

Kim's picture making has been on a completely instinctive level, as originally, she was not familiar with the work of many other photographers. Kim has always admired kitchen sink realism, which has greatly influenced her work.  

Mosney - Identity in Transition :

Mosney, Co.Meath, Ireland was once a Butlins Holiday Camp. It was an escape for many Irish families from the 1950’s to the 1980’s, until package holidays and cheap flights led to its decline in the ’90’s. As a teenager Kim spent many summers working in Mosney, as did many people in the local area. This holiday camp was once photographed by John Hinde and Martin Parr in it’s hey day.
In 2000 it became a refugee centre and it now houses over 900 asylum seekers from all over the world. Mosney is now a haven for these new residents but for very different reasons - they now exist in limbo, awaiting a decision on their outcome, within the backdrop of this surreal environment with a ghostly atmosphere of happier times. This series examines and makes reference to the complexities and ambiguities when representing identity, as well as acknowledging elements of Kim's own identity.

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Recent Commissions/Opportunities:

January 2011:
Plat(t)form 2011, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Switzerland
An International portfolio viewing, featuring emerging European photographers, selected from a nomination process.  

January 2010:
The Photographer’s Gallery, London
A portrait commission for the London 2012 Olympics, exploring the diverse cultural landscape of the capital, supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Invitees were decided through a panel of specialists, led by The Gallery.           

January 2009:
Photo-Id, Norwich City Council, England
A major group exhibition featuring the work of 10 specially commissioned artists, exploring the issues around identity. As part of the Welcome Trust award, the exhibition will travel to 30 galleries and museums around the UK.

Recent Publications:

January 2010:
Source Magazine (Issue 61), 8 page article featuring my long term project ‘A Portrait of a Village’.
                         
April 2010:
British Journal of Photography, article featuring the series ‘Holy Joe’s’ in the first new look monthly edition.

Recent Exhibitions/Awards:

January 2011:
Photo-Id, The Welcome Trust, Newcastle
A major group exhibition featuring the work of 10 specially commissioned artists, exploring the issues around identity. As part of the Welcome Trust award, the exhibition will travel to 30 galleries and museums around the UK.

July 2010:           
Photo-Id, The Welcome Trust, Hereford Photography Festival, Hereford
A major group exhibition featuring the work of 10 specially commissioned artists, exploring the issues around identity. As part of the Welcome Trust award, the exhibition will travel to 30 galleries and museums around the UK.

August 2009:           
Photo-Id, The Welcome Trust, The Forum, Norwich
A major group exhibition featuring the work of 10 specially commissioned artists, exploring the issues around identity. As part of the Welcome Trust award, the exhibition will travel to 30 galleries and museums around the UK.

March 2009:        
Holy Joe’s, The London Assembly, City Hall, London  
Solo exhibition, celebrating the St.Patrick’s day festival, in the Lord Mayor’s residence.

January 2009:
Distill[ed], Menier Gallery, London
Group exhibition featuring the latest work, from the freshest crop of documentary photographers.

July 2009:
Short listed for the Rhubarb-Rhubarb Bursary 2009
Bursary for a group exhibition featuring the best of UK photographers, and a place at the Rhubarb international Seminar.

2008 - 2009:    
Ireland (an insider’s view), Arles, Berlin, Paris, Dublin  
Group, touring exhibition featuring the latest photographic talent presented by the Gallery of Photography, Dublin.

November 2008:            
The De Veres Award, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
Award for first time exhibitor at the 178th RHA annual exhibition.          

178th RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
Annual exhibition of selected artist’s work in this artist based, artist oriented institution.

Trick or Treat, Wilkin’s Street, Waterford
Group exhibition of contemporary art in a domestic space, as part of the Waterford Imagine Arts festival 2008.

September 2008:           
Hasselblad Masters Annual Award
Semi – Finalist of this prestigious annual award.

October 2008:             
Space Between Exhibition, Turner House, Penarth, Wales
Group MA exhibition featuring the work of graduates of the University of Wales, Newport.