Williamson Art Gallery & Museum: Life Line: Photographs by Jonathan Cooper

Life Line: Photographs by Jonathan Cooper
September 2^nd – October 28^th 2023
Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead

Wirral-based photographer Jonathan Cooper exhibits unique perspectives on West Kirby’s waterfront.

Life Line exhibits two photography series based along the West Kirby waterfront. Employing magical realism and unique printing techniques, Cooper’s photographs place their inhabitants in a dreamlike world.

Cooper’s photographs transform physical environments into imaginary worlds. From his unique perspectives, the paths of the people out and about on the promenade and Marine Lake appear to interact in impossible, unexpected ways. He captures his subjects from some distance, and their apparently small size draws our attention to the subtle details of their actions and movements

Cooper began these series when the old West Kirby promenade still existed, and these photographs also track the development of the new flood defence wall.

Williamson Curator Niall Hodson commented:  “I am delighted that the Williamson will be showcasing this collection of contemporary photographs. Jonathan Cooper’s images of West Kirby are by turns magical, absorbing, puzzling and witty. Cooper’s patient observation of people and places along the waterfront encourages us to look at the Deeside horizon of West Wirral in a new light.”

Life Line will run at Williamson Art Gallery 2^nd September – 28^th October.