Clair Robins

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, & aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester & who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge and the here & now. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive & determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality & humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery', Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic story telling triptychs, short video clips that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object selected by each child.

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, & aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester & who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge and the here & now. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive & determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality & humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery', Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic story telling triptychs, short video clips that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object selected by each child.

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, and aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester and who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge, and change. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive and determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality and humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery' , Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic triptych's that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object for each child.

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, & aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester & who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge and the here & now. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive & determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality & humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery', Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic story telling triptychs, short video clips that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object selected by each child.

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, & aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester & who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge and the here & now. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive & determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality & humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery', Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic story telling triptychs, short video clips that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object selected by each child.

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, & aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester & who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge and the here & now. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive & determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality & humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery', Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic story telling triptychs, short video clips that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object selected by each child.

‘ME’ teases out & shares current optimistic, social, & aspirational stories from local children of today in Leicester & who they really are. The work open up conversations about future, dreams, knowledge and the here & now. It evidences how a child’s voice is powerful, positive & determined. Celebrating the empowerment of youth, education, arts, sports, individuality & humanity. Recently exhibited in the 'Peoples Gallery', Leicester New Walk Museums, the work presented 25 photographic story telling triptychs, short video clips that contained poignant portraits, hand written notes and a personal object selected by each child.

This work probes the depths of vernacular beach scene photography & the hidden stories that remain or could have been. The unknown family 'traditional' photographs are reimagined with shorelines and seascapes. By gently combining analogue & digital, I have forged new narratives & reclaimed redundant imagery.

This work probes the depths of vernacular beach scene photography & the hidden stories that remain or could have been. The unknown family 'traditional' photographs are reimagined with shorelines and seascapes. By gently combining analogue & digital, I have forged new narratives & reclaimed redundant imagery.

This work probes the depths of vernacular beach scene photography & the hidden stories that remain or could have been. The unknown family 'traditional' photographs are reimagined with shorelines and seascapes. By gently combining analogue & digital, I have forged new narratives & reclaimed redundant imagery.

This work probes the depths of vernacular beach scene photography & the hidden stories that remain or could have been. The unknown family 'traditional' photographs are reimagined with shorelines and seascapes. By gently combining analogue & digital, I have forged new narratives & reclaimed redundant imagery.

This work probes the depths of vernacular beach scene photography & the hidden stories that remain or could have been. The unknown family 'traditional' photographs are reimagined with shorelines and seascapes. By gently combining analogue & digital, I have forged new narratives & reclaimed redundant imagery.

This work probes the depths of vernacular beach scene photography & the hidden stories that remain or could have been. The unknown family 'traditional' photographs are reimagined with shorelines and seascapes. By gently combining analogue & digital, I have forged new narratives & reclaimed redundant imagery.

Merging Present & Past - Why are we forever searching and seeking out the past? Part of our being is constructed to be nostalgic and reminiscent. We often have an ardent desire to revisit and reflect on hazy memories to straighten out the facts from our childhood. Holding onto the past is never really complete, there are facets that get distorted and reimagined - the information is past down and not always correct, sometimes understated or embellished. Distinct memories and desires interpolate the truth, and fill-in the gaps. However objects and personal possessions reveal elements of the truth, that we can’t overlook. Is it quite bizarre to want to hoard ‘souvenirs’, or is this intrinsic to human nature – never really wanting to quite let go or move on? My collection of keepsakes are more than mementoes; these images are a record of our family history – physical connections that have shaped our future and informed us of our past. Used, loved, practical or treasured, passed on from mother, to father, to daughter and granddaughter. In this work I am both visually and conceptually exploring the ever-shifting changes within my family and my obsession to preserve ‘things’ as a reminder, almost keeping rooted to who I am and where I come from. Through my image making, that combines current shots and images photographed at my ‘empty’ late grandma’s house in 2011, I have endeavoured create new opportunities, explore previously unshared stories though my memories and false (or truthful) recollections. The diptychs are slowly piecing together my fond memories of Edna and how she lived, exploring her possessions and reflecting how grandparents for most, can be key elements of family life. They had such an impact on me and my sister during my childhood years, and help shaped my upbringing, not just a babysitter, but, a good listener, a storyteller and a helping hand. History is now repeating itself with my two daughters. We need to keep collecting and adding to this huge historical narrative for the future, my images hope to preserve and celebrate the ordinary.

Merging Present & Past - Why are we forever searching and seeking out the past? Part of our being is constructed to be nostalgic and reminiscent. We often have an ardent desire to revisit and reflect on hazy memories to straighten out the facts from our childhood. Holding onto the past is never really complete, there are facets that get distorted and reimagined - the information is past down and not always correct, sometimes understated or embellished. Distinct memories and desires interpolate the truth, and fill-in the gaps. However objects and personal possessions reveal elements of the truth, that we can’t overlook. Is it quite bizarre to want to hoard ‘souvenirs’, or is this intrinsic to human nature – never really wanting to quite let go or move on? My collection of keepsakes are more than mementoes; these images are a record of our family history – physical connections that have shaped our future and informed us of our past. Used, loved, practical or treasured, passed on from mother, to father, to daughter and granddaughter. In this work I am both visually and conceptually exploring the ever-shifting changes within my family and my obsession to preserve ‘things’ as a reminder, almost keeping rooted to who I am and where I come from. Through my image making, that combines current shots and images photographed at my ‘empty’ late grandma’s house in 2011, I have endeavoured create new opportunities, explore previously unshared stories though my memories and false (or truthful) recollections. The diptychs are slowly piecing together my fond memories of Edna and how she lived, exploring her possessions and reflecting how grandparents for most, can be key elements of family life. They had such an impact on me and my sister during my childhood years, and help shaped my upbringing, not just a babysitter, but, a good listener, a storyteller and a helping hand. History is now repeating itself with my two daughters. We need to keep collecting and adding to this huge historical narrative for the future, my images hope to preserve and celebrate the ordinary.

Merging Present & Past - Why are we forever searching and seeking out the past? Part of our being is constructed to be nostalgic and reminiscent. We often have an ardent desire to revisit and reflect on hazy memories to straighten out the facts from our childhood. Holding onto the past is never really complete, there are facets that get distorted and reimagined - the information is past down and not always correct, sometimes understated or embellished. Distinct memories and desires interpolate the truth, and fill-in the gaps. However objects and personal possessions reveal elements of the truth, that we can’t overlook. Is it quite bizarre to want to hoard ‘souvenirs’, or is this intrinsic to human nature – never really wanting to quite let go or move on? My collection of keepsakes are more than mementoes; these images are a record of our family history – physical connections that have shaped our future and informed us of our past. Used, loved, practical or treasured, passed on from mother, to father, to daughter and granddaughter. In this work I am both visually and conceptually exploring the ever-shifting changes within my family and my obsession to preserve ‘things’ as a reminder, almost keeping rooted to who I am and where I come from. Through my image making, that combines current shots and images photographed at my ‘empty’ late grandma’s house in 2011, I have endeavoured create new opportunities, explore previously unshared stories though my memories and false (or truthful) recollections. The diptychs are slowly piecing together my fond memories of Edna and how she lived, exploring her possessions and reflecting how grandparents for most, can be key elements of family life. They had such an impact on me and my sister during my childhood years, and help shaped my upbringing, not just a babysitter, but, a good listener, a storyteller and a helping hand. History is now repeating itself with my two daughters. We need to keep collecting and adding to this huge historical narrative for the future, my images hope to preserve and celebrate the ordinary.

Merging Present & Past - Why are we forever searching and seeking out the past? Part of our being is constructed to be nostalgic and reminiscent. We often have an ardent desire to revisit and reflect on hazy memories to straighten out the facts from our childhood. Holding onto the past is never really complete, there are facets that get distorted and reimagined - the information is past down and not always correct, sometimes understated or embellished. Distinct memories and desires interpolate the truth, and fill-in the gaps. However objects and personal possessions reveal elements of the truth, that we can’t overlook. Is it quite bizarre to want to hoard ‘souvenirs’, or is this intrinsic to human nature – never really wanting to quite let go or move on? My collection of keepsakes are more than mementoes; these images are a record of our family history – physical connections that have shaped our future and informed us of our past. Used, loved, practical or treasured, passed on from mother, to father, to daughter and granddaughter. In this work I am both visually and conceptually exploring the ever-shifting changes within my family and my obsession to preserve ‘things’ as a reminder, almost keeping rooted to who I am and where I come from. Through my image making, that combines current shots and images photographed at my ‘empty’ late grandma’s house in 2011, I have endeavoured create new opportunities, explore previously unshared stories though my memories and false (or truthful) recollections. The diptychs are slowly piecing together my fond memories of Edna and how she lived, exploring her possessions and reflecting how grandparents for most, can be key elements of family life. They had such an impact on me and my sister during my childhood years, and help shaped my upbringing, not just a babysitter, but, a good listener, a storyteller and a helping hand. History is now repeating itself with my two daughters. We need to keep collecting and adding to this huge historical narrative for the future, my images hope to preserve and celebrate the ordinary.

Clair Robins

‘In a world of uncertainty, I can always rely on image making to express my ideas and concepts.’

Robins is a photographic visual artist and educator in FE from Leicester UK. She is an obsessed image maker – her work, approach and style has been evolving throughout her life and has overlapped both traditional and digital processes.

Much of Robins artwork creations has stemmed from observation of the mundane and daily life. Nostalgia, memories and conceptionally constructed scenarios often emerge and question within her story telling. Visual language, narrative and aphoristic humour collides with her compositions and observations, her work is quite personal and intimate, occasionally using her growing daughters as ‘props’ in her photographs.

Collections, artefacts, portraiture merge and collide with memorabilia, within her still life photographs. Robins’ passionate reflection on ‘who we are’ and ‘how we live’ probes and connects on many levels, ultimately it examines our existence and world.

Much of her current work has taken inspiration from the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, it’s really given her an opportunity to re-evaluate her environment and the simple challenges we encounter on a daily basis.

It’s fairly easy to recognise that the mundane is never mundane in Robins compelling creations.

 

@clairscollections @clair_r_photo

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