Major Practical Project - Anna Fox

Fox's series entitled My Mother's Cupboards and My Father's Words from 1999 combines photographs of the interiors of her mother's cupboards with quotes from her father to form an invitingly pocket-sized photobook. She describes how the quotes and images represent "An unexpectedly wicked narrative exploring a claustrophobic relationship". Here are some examples of double page spreads from the book:

©Anna Fox

©Anna Fox

©Anna Fox

These images are another example of how Nigel Shafran describes his work - the photos that only she can make. No other artist of photographer could make this work because no-one else knows the ins and outs of Fox's family situation. The images are relatively simply shot and framed, with tight composition not allowing the viewer to see anything outside of the cupboards she is focussing on. A flash has clearly been used to highlight inside the cupboards, leaving harsh reflections and shadows. Although we are not shown anything of the rest of her house, the neatness of what is photographed leads us to make assumptions about her personality. This also rings true for her father - we only read aggressive, expletive comments which, although only highlights one side of his personality, doesn't make the reader particularly warm to him.
Although Fox appears to be highlighting the differences between her parents, the images and the words do draw similarities towards each other. Besides being offensive, her fathers words are actually quite simple, reflecting the simplicity of the photographs they accompany.
In terms of the images themselves, it seems Fox has tried to keep the colours and the composition very much as if we were there, rifling through her mother's cupboards ourselves. The images are far from deadpan - the warm tones coming from the reddish wood do make them feel much more personal. When we compare this work to that of John R J Taylor for example, it is clear to see which is a personal project and which has been shot commercially.
This is another project that thrives off the acknowledgement of little details - a style which I do see myself employing for my images. The next bridge I need to cross is how to get across to my viewers the intense knowledge I have of my home - how do I make them realise that I am photographing the wallpaper on my staircase because it always catches my nails when I brush my hand along it. How do I impart the things I feel and remember about my home with my audience without them being able to be there?

http://www.annafox.co.uk/work/my-mothers-cupboards/