Clare Shilland / Girls! Girls! Girls!

About

Girls! Girls! Girls! is fashion photographer Clare Shilland's first solo exhibition. The images showcased reveal new themes and narratives to Clare's work that contrast and compliment her existing portfolio. Clare has been documenting girl drummers as a way of coming to terms with her life long urge to be a drummer herself; an ambition thwarted by her inability to play the drums. These images form part of an ongoing series of work that captures girls who can keep time, engaged in an activity that they love. Alongside Girl Drummers is a series of nudes featuring friends of the photographer. These pictures are all about the beauty and bravado of girls, in all their natural glory. The subject matter of these stories evidence two contrasting sides of Clare's personality - the Tomboy and the Feminine Girl. Further contrasts can be found between the construction of the images and the qualities that they convey. Documentary opposes set up, visceral balances beautiful, and movement contradicts stillness, yet all the images share an intimacy and honesty that underpins Clare's work. Clare grew up in suburban south London, dreaming of the scummy inner city. Her dreams took her as far as Brixton where she still resides. After studying at Camberwell and the RCA, Clare began documenting the subjects that fascinated her - the people and places of those daydreams. Clare has shot for i-D, Italian Rolling Stone, H&M, 10, Hardy Amies, Warner Music, Silas & Maria, Lula.