Boxer

About

Featuring images of the boxer Ramon Levy-Vassie, the exhibition and book launch mark the photographer’s on-going collaboration with artist and stylist Barry Kamen.

“There’s a magic that only happens when like-minded creative forces collide. Working with Ramon and Barry was terrific. It was all about teamwork,” says Vickery.

A chance meeting between boxer Levy-Vassie and Vickery on the London Underground set the project in motion. This developed into an insightful study focusing on what it means to be a young boxer in London in the 21st Century.

As with previous projects, an intimate and highly personalised approach has become a Vickery trademark style.

‘I work very closely with all my subjects. Ramon really understood my need to work in this manner. There’s an honesty and sensitivty in Boxer. I’m capturing moments of truth. There’s a poetry to images made this way. It’s hard to fabricate that.’

Shot entirely on film over a twelve month period, Boxer traces Levy-Vassie’s journey from training to first pro-fight and beyond.

Culminating in a series of high-stylised images, the project embraces both Documentary and Fine Art genres, serving as a reflection upon both the sport and the art of boxing.

At the post-production stage, Paul worked closely with Master Printers Peter Guest (The Image), Bryan O’Leary and Chris Ashman (Artful Dodgers Imaging). For Vickery, the contribution of these printers was key.

‘I’ve worked with Pete at The Image and Bryan and Chris at Artful for many years. They are the best in the business. They know exactly how I want my prints to look and feel.The relationship between photographer and printer is often undervalued. It’s really the final ingredient required to showcase a killer image that collectors seek.’

Since graduating from Central Saint Martins, Paul Vickery has built a reputation for producing compelling imagery combining Documentary, Portaiture, Fine Art and Style genres.

His work has been exhibited in London and New York, appearing alongside eminent photographers Rankin, Perou, Uli Weber and Dean Chalkley. Collectors include Peter Paul Hartnett and international gallerists Meryl Messineo and Helene Wyman (Messineo Art Projects & Wyman Contemporary NYC).

Paul Vickery’s work has featured in Arena Homme Plus, 125 Magazine, Professional Photographer, Black and White, GUP, Jock&Nerds, and the Hip-Hop bible Viper.