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#APlaceWeLive. Casting call for photographic exhibition subjects.

To whomever it may concern,

I am searching for people to photograph in London. 

My usual line of work is fashion, but for this new body of work you don't have to be pretty, young or thin.
But don't worry if you are... I might still consider you.
Most importantly I just want interesting and diverse people and the chance to photograph them in the place they live.

Not airbrushed.
Not contrived or overly posed.
Just as you are. Honest.

If you would like to be photographed or would like to suggest somebody to be part of this exhibition please send me your/their details to Info@mattfordstudio.com

The social media pages have only just been launched ( twitter/instagram @APlaceWeLive ) but feel free to start hashtaging #APlaceWeLive in the meantime. 

Thanks

MF 

Additional info

Goal:
To create a solo photography exhibition in 2015 with between 30 and 50 colour and black and white portraits.

Creative parameters:
Subjects must be dressed as themselves and photographed in or around the place they live.

Thought Process:
I'm a 32 year old photographer who has recently moved to London after thinking about it for more time than I care to remember.

I have collected many expectations and deluded ideas about what it is like to live here and how I would fit in.

As i'm new and I haven't compleaty settled in i'm still perplexed with discovering ever nook and cranny of every sub culture in this immense and fast evolving place.

Who lives there, where have they come from? Who can still afford that area? Is that the new cool or the has been place?
If I could learn a little bit from the huge diversity of people who moved here and where born here, can I find out what it really means, collectively, to be a Londoner?

Even though I want to go on a journey to discover about the people of London, I want to discover who I want to become my self. Who I already am and where I belong.

I want the process of this exhibition to challenge my creative brain as well as technical skills in a new and different way.  The process of meeting people and photographing them from a completely objective point of view, if anyone knows my work, is completely alien to me. I want to challenge my self to a new way of thinking about what photography can be used for.

The Shiny New Festival 2014. Returning to The Lantern Theatre this July.

Shiny New Festival poster artwork by Matt Ford. 

It's nearly that time of the year again when some of the Northwest's finest new writers and performers get together at The Lantern Theatre as part of Liverpool's only Fringe Theatre Festival. 

Previous years of the festival have showcased amazing new comedy, such as rising Stand-Up star Alistair Clark and "Comedy Rock Stars" brother act, Jolly Boat. Both shows, which debuted at Shiny New Festival, have gone on to be a resounding success in the world famous Edinburgh Festival with 5-star reviews. 

Image Jolly Boat.

The Shiny New Festival 2014 also promises to return with a brand new selection of cutting edge dramas being announced soon. 

The subject matter in previous years has left audiences enlightened, surprised and even shocked at times, as Shiny New claims not to be scared of taking risks.

Bruise By John Maguire, which debuted in 2012's Shiny New Festival, touched on the controversial and taboo subject of gay domestic violence. The dark drama became a surprise hit receiving a standing ovation on both nights with its moving performance from Anthony Proctor. 

Overall, festival organiser, Peter Mitchell and The Lantern Theatre aim to provide Liverpool a taste of The Edinburgh Festival vibe.

Peter insists that,

            "Fringe is where all good theatre starts. By putting on this festival each year we are making people more aware of shows and writers that they might not of heard of before. We don't always have big names but we don't charge an arm and a leg for our tickets. With the amazing support of our new and loyal audiences and the up and coming stars who perform at the festival, we always manage to put on incredible and unforgettable shows."

The Shiny New Festival 2014 at The Lantern Theatre Blundell Street is on from 14th - 20th July. 

Discounted Multi show passes will be available again this year. 

Links:

Shiny New festival Facebook

Tickets and information: Lantern Theatre

Festival Artwork by Matt Ford Studio.

Blog about the making of the poster

Philip Armstrong Showroom Launch and Designers portrait revealed.

Last thursday I made it back to Liverpool for the launch of Philip Armstrong's new Showroom/ Design studio. 

Tony and Philip, the designers behind the brand, have had quite a year with a record number of dresses being worn at Movie premiers, Award shows and TV spots on both sides of the Atlantic. Their latest A-lister fan is Beyonce. 

Fellow Liverpudlian Abby Clancy even helped the pair get one of their dresses on the front page of the Express during the National Soap Awards in January. 

The one-off floor length red dress, which got favourited by top Elle magazine Editor, is one of many sported by the current Strictly Come Dancing winner. 

The launch event was also the reveal of my Pop Art portrait of the two designers, now hung in the entrance of the showroom. 

The showroom is now open to the public and offers many ready to wear designs as well as catering to their made to measure clients. 

Philip Armstrong.

No 1 
Brunswick business Park
Liverpool

L3 4BL 

My latest collection shoot with them, their first to be stocked in Paris, goes live in a few weeks so check back soon for the highlights of that. 

This image shot by my self is from their Atelier 2014 currently available to view by request. 

Clare Jordan and I at the P.A. Launch.

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Cut and Paste.

I've been musing over lots of cut and paste work lately in antisapation for the forthcoming Richard Hamilton Exhibition at Tate Modern.

This is one of my more successful takes on his work, featuring an outfit from gender blurring designer Jean Paul Gaultier, a giant plaster penis from artist Sarah Lucas and Daniel Radcliffe trying to butch up to the camera. Read into that what you want. 

*Update. Weds 7th May 2014. 

I've been trying to mix up the above (real physical photographs and water colour) with a new graphic digital illustration style with out much success. The styles seem to work better, at the moment, standing alone. The hope is eventually merge the two styles to make this years (my 3rd year designing in a row) Shiny New Festival artwork and then after that who knows. 

The past two posters (below) for Liverpool Fringe Festival have drawn inspiration from my 60s vintage movie posters book and the gloriously trashy cut and paste techniques used on the likes of the God Save the Queen artwork that The Sex Pistols used. We had planned to use this style three years in a row but it's time for something new. 

Here's a look into my sketch pad so far and the new completely digital style I'm trying to develop.

Please leave some comments at the bottom if you have any opinions good or bad. 

"Give it to my Amy - Aha Aha"

"Me - (Matt Ford)."

"Dance off."                                                                                                       "Fashion Illustration #1"

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