Matt Stuart - All That Life Can Afford

About

theprintspace are pleased to announce the opening of All that Life can Afford, a solo show featuring images selected from Stuart’s extensive archive of street shots, captured during the 20 years he’s been shooting in the genre. The exhibition follows acclaimed workshops, residencies and exhibitions from New York, San Francisco, Finland, Museum of London, Tate Modern members room, Photo London and Arles.

From leashed ferrets to mischievous devils Matt Stuart captures serendipitous snippets of London life that show how uncanny city life can be. His pictures are full of clever juxtapositions of comedy, wit, and masterfully timed moments, cutting through the urban noise, ebbs and flows of human traffic to reveal witty, tender, magical moments which are gone as quickly as they appeared.

Matt is well known for his perceptive, witty and sometimes bizarre take on London’s inhabitants. Commuters, workmen, tourists and shoppers are all revealed in a 500th of a second. No jiggery-pokery, photoshop or darkroom manipulation, just having to be at the right spot at the right time, silently patiently observing with a lightning fast shutter-finger and a keen eye for the arrangements of objects and subjects looking for unique images full of humour, colour and the smell of the city streets.

His advice to street shooters is: Buy a good pair of comfortable shoes, have a camera around your neck at all times, keep your elbows in, be patient, optimistic and don’t forget to smile.

As well as stalking the streets with his camera strung around his neck, Stuart takes on commercial work for clients such as Eurostar, Vodafone and the Tate

The exhibition is accompanied by Matt’s first book: All That Life Can Afford, now onto its second print-run following huge success after it’s launch at the Photographers Gallery.

Published February 2016 by the Plague Press price £30. http://www.mattstuart.com/book The book features a foreword written by Geoff Dyer.