Tom Pope: The Escapades of the Higher Man

About

Tom Pope is an emerging artist who was born in Bristol and studied at Swansea Metropolitan University. He is best known for his photographic works which often feature the artist himself performing certain actions or movements. This is his first major solo exhibition and features a series of previously unseen works taken in Marseille in 2009. In these works, Pope sets out on a journey exploring this concept through various acts, ranging from the absurdly daring to the slapstick: leaping off buildings, attempting to throw and catch a bucket of water, or disguising himself beneath a pile of rubbish in the streets of Marseille.

The combination of photography and performance is central to Pope's practice, as is his engagement with 'the everyday', using ordinary settings and involving other people going about their lives. By combining these elements, Pope raises important questions about photographic practice and the complex relationship between reality and fiction. Whilst his performances are staged acts of fiction, they could also be understood as capturing a 'real' event in the streets of Marseille. Pope seeks to undermine the idea that the photograph is a document of reality, showing how unstable and unreliable the photograph can be.