Photo | Frome

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Photo|Frome brings world-class photography to the Southwest of England. With its theme The Independent Eye the inaugural edition celebrates Frome's bohemian spirit with a curated selection of independent talent. A total 50 artists are presented in solo and group exhibitions across six venues.

Homegrown contributions include a rare chance to see Danny North's celebrity portraits and live shots taken at concerts and festivals around the world. John Angerson takes us into space with his unique collages that combine recently discovered archive material with his coverage of the 1996 NASA training program.

Chris Chapman's award-winning black and white photography of Dartmoor life and the Beaford Photographic Archive of rural life and landscape by the late James Ravilious stand in stark contrast to the colourful mix of strangers encountered on the streets of London by Robert Huggins; or to Vanessa Fairfax-Woods' powerful commentary on women's roles in the home.

An international perspective is provided by Olga Karlovac who takes us on an atmospheric journey of her Croatian hometown. Hanna-Katrina Jędrosz presents a rare look behind the former Iron Curtain with her series on the European Green Belt. Ukranian-Russian artist Aljoscha works under a pseudonym, his bright sculptures made the reverse journey of many refugees as they passed mine fields, checkpoints and interrogations to send hope to those unable to leave. The photographs presented at Photo|Frome document their arrival at schools and shelters in war-torn Ukraine.

Other highlights include a collaboration with the Frome Heritage Museum. The current showcase of 'Celebrated Women of Frome' features pioneering documentary photographer Alice Seeley Harris whose photography helped to expose the human rights abuses in the Congo Free State under the regime of King Leopold II. The exhibition curator, David Lassman, and Photo|Frome curator Mick Yates review the work from a post-colonial perspective.