This year’s Brighton Photo Biennial (BPB) is a celebration of photography’s open and inclusive nature.

To quote Gina Lundy, a Bristol-based photographer commissioned to work with teenagers in the community: ‘There are no set routes into photography. It is very open and can give you a platform to start a conversation that you want to have, to tell a story that you want to tell.’  Through this prevailing sense of openness, the biennial’s theme of Communities, Collectives and Collaboration has been perfectly reflected by at least 20 free exhibits and more than 50 events throughout Brighton and surrounding areas.

There is no single artistic mastermind behind the exhibits, instead this year’s biennial has been forged by the visions of many skilled curators and artists, who worked in collaboration with each other. This approach has ensured that the whole community has been represented and engaged: children, families, teens, students, adults, pensioners and professional photographers. No one has been excluded.

Although this breadth and diversity is fantastic, it is also daunting as it’s difficult to know where to start. A good way to do this is to try and connect with the stories being told through each exhibit, no matter how alien they appear to be. Behind the exhibits are stories about individuals, generations, societies and nations, posing questions about universal human issues, such as: ageing, loss, grief, death, identity, prejudice, freedom and conflict. 

A View to the Past, outside The Jubilee Library, is a good starting point as it encapsulates the openness of this year’s BPB. On large boards photos are displayed which showcase the work of amateur photographers and familiar scenes. The exhibit boards focus on the daily journeys of individuals, for example, Sandra Lundy’s display focuses on her daily journey to her husband’s grave. In talking to Steve Jeanes, a BPB volunteer who has supervised at many of the exhibitions, about the biennial, he said: ‘Some of the individual photos aren't that exciting but it’s the narrative they create that’s interesting.’ This is certainly true of ‘A View to the Past’ as the journeys depicted are commonplace and although the photos may lack technical prowess, the small details tell very intimate stories, which are easy to connect with. 

The most masterful example of story-telling, however, is showcased in the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery: Amore e Piombo: Photography of Extremes in 1970s Italy. It is a particularly striking exhibit and very accessible, despite the ostensibly alien theme: Italy’s Years of Lead. This era of socio-political turmoil was so-named because of the number of bullets fired in the battle between far right and far left extremists groups.  The exhibit starts with a neat display of press images, depicting ordinary people and moves through to striking paparazzi images of celebrities, before ending on hard-hitting images of death.

The sobering images of death are entombed in glass cases on the floor, creating the unnerving sensation of looking into a grave as visitors peer down at them. 

 As viewers immerse themselves in the frivolity and turmoil of Italy’s social and political story, the wail of sirens from a looping news reel, permeates the room, creating a haunting backdrop to Italy’s ‘Years of Lead’.  This creates an unsettling echo of the terrorism and turmoil of the present day. Mr Jeanes also commented on this exhibit, saying: ‘There is a conflict of ideologies, a battle between East and West that mirrors today.’

It is connections and stories like these that help make this year’s BPB, the sixth series, so open and inclusive. Each exhibit venue presents something to relate to or something new to consider.  Whether looking at personal or cultural images, hearing about teenagers’ journeys, or attending practical workshops with a young family, new avenues are opened up to everyone. Whether they’re avenues of thought, experience or simply avenues of the city not yet traversed, they are well worth exploring before the biennial ends on November 2. 

Visit the Brighton Photo Biennial website here.

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