British Culture Archive presented a selection of British documentary photography at Sputnik Kinobar in Kreuzberg, Berlin, as part of British Shorts 2020. Curated by Paul Wright, the pop-up exhibition brought photographs from the archive into the festival’s programme of screenings and events.
Part of BCA’s early exhibition programme, the Berlin presentation explored everyday life in Britain through the work of photographers closely connected to the communities they documented.
Murtha’s Elswick Kids photographs were made in Newcastle’s West End in 1978. They record children’s play and everyday life among streets and spaces undergoing change, with close attention to the people who lived there.
Rob Bremner’s colour photographs of Liverpool are centred on the people who lived there. His portraits record street life, friendships and local style, building a picture of the city through everyday encounters.
The 13th Lichtspielklub British Shorts festival ran from 16–22 January 2020, presenting short films from the UK and Ireland across documentary, drama, comedy, animation and experimental film. Exhibitions, talks, concerts and workshops accompanied the screenings.
The original festival programme (PDF) lists BCA’s exhibition at Sputnik Kinobar for 17–22 January, on printed page 24. It provides a contemporary record of the archive’s place in the festival.
Exhibition
British Culture Archive at British Shorts
Venue
Sputnik Kinobar, Sputnik Kino, Kreuzberg, Berlin
Exhibition period
January–February 2020, as recorded by BCA
Festival exhibition listing
17–22 January 2020, in the official festival programme
Curator
Paul Wright, British Culture Archive
Photographers included
Tish Murtha, Rob Bremner and Richard Davis
For press and archive enquiries: contact@britishculturearchive.co.uk