David Spero’s Churches
National Media Museum, Bradford
Ends 4 September 2011
At first you might think you have wandered into the wrong space; none of the pictures seem to be of a church. No impressive gothic architecture in sight. Then, after looking a bit closer, reading some of the titles or watching a short videoed interview with the photographer, you get it. These pictures are not of churches in the traditional sense; they are shops, industrial units, houses and other buildings used as a church. They illustrate competing forces in society: the spiritual and the commercial. For me they also illustrated the fact that organised religion is losing ground. The splendour of the church with some impressive big oak trees around it is replaced by small premises falling into disrepair. Obviously they do not have the financial power that the church used to have. They do not communicate a sense of authority, they don't intimidate. These buildings come down to the level of the potential worshipper and inspire pity; they try to meet their flock on the high street and other places that are part of daily life. The photos are mostly taken in 'cheap,' slightly run-down areas of London and this indicates that the church now is at the periphery of society, now longer the power house it was centuries ago. The photos also depict some humorous co-locations: a church above a betting shop, or the Celestial Church of Christ in a car lot, surrounded by signs like 'Beware of Dog' and 'No Children Allowed.'
It would have been interesting to learn a bit more about the people who visit these new churches. How many people go to these places? I got the impression that some of them had not had a visitor in months. Who goes there and why? There are people in some of the pictures, but they are incidental. Maybe a subject for another project? In this exhibition all the attention is focussed on the premises and that is a strength. David Spero tried to stay out of these pictures as much as possible and he succeeded. There are no artistic angles, no fancy Photoshopping to put drama into the scene, no ominous clouds for God to hide behind. David used a 5x4 technical camera that allowed him to present the churches in a cool, matter of fact way that is very suited to the subject.
An interesting show that comments on the position of spirituality in modern society and worth a visit to this great museum.