The Archisle project is hosted by the Societé Jersiais Photographic Archive, under Gareth Syvret, and aims to promote contemporary photography through exhibitions and by bringing international contemporary photographers to Jersey to create, educate and show their work.
London-based Mr Bush is a photographer, writer, curator and a lecturer on the MA and BA(hons) documentary photography programmes at the London College of Communication.
After studying history and working as a researcher for the United Nations Taskforce on HIV/AIDS, he completed an MA in documentary photography at the London College of Communication in 2012.
Since then his work has encompassed photography, writing and curation to explore ideas about the way power is created and exercised in the world. In one of his projects, The Memory of History (2012), he travelled through ten European countries documenting the way that the past was being manipulated in the context of the economic crisis and recession. The work was widely published and was exhibited at the European Union’s permanent representation in Smith Square, London, in 2014.
His recent works include Metropole (2015), which looks at the architectural transformation of London and the city’s growing inequality by subverting the imagery of London’s luxury and corporate developments. Mr Bush also recently published Shadows of the State (2018), a photobook about shortwave numbers stations – a way of transmitting information to secret agents – that might still be in use today.
Mr Bush said: ‘I am grateful for this opportunity to spend such a considerable period of time developing new work, and am excited to be doing it within the unique context of Jersey. In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, the United Kingdom faces an enormous number of choices about how it orientates itself, and the path Jersey has taken over the last half-century is seen by some as a possible model for the United Kingdom as a whole. I am looking forward to exploring these issues in collaboration with residents of Jersey.’
The photographer also writes extensively on contemporary and historic photography for print and online titles, including photography and art magazines 1000 Words, Foam, Hotshoe, Photoworks, Hyperallergic, Photomonitor and the British Journal of Photography, as well as the Photographers’ Gallery blog. Between 2011 and 2017 he wrote and edited Disphotic, a blog on photography and visual culture.
Gareth Syvret, Archisle project leader, said: ‘Following the success of the Archisle Residencies from 2013 to 2017, Lewis Bush is a great appointment for 2018. Lewis plans to investigate the history and status of Jersey’s finance industry in the context of Brexit. The project is therefore timely and will mark an important contribution. Lewis’s strong profile as a photographic educator will also bring excellent opportunities to Jersey students of all ages through the Archisle Educational Programme.’
Arts Charity the One Foundation sponsors the project and council member Rod McLoughlin said: ‘The One Foundation is delighted to continue its relationship with the Archisle Residency, which has been conspicuously successful in raising the standard of photography in Jersey, and engaging many members of the community of all ages in workshops, exhibitions and talks. Its programmes have been put together with great skill to draw on
the particular qualities of each photographer – so we’re looking forward to the results of the latest partnership with great interest.’
The residency awards a bursary of £10,000 for an exhibition of new work and a set of these works enter the Archisle collection at the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive for future public enjoyment.
