A Manchester photographer is attempting to capture the beauty of graffiti in her Urban Art Photography Exhibition – due to open next month.
Graffiti continually splits opinion. To some, it’s an eye sore and a blight on the urban landscapes, but to others it is a visceral and grounded art form.
It’s with the latter view in mind that Ness Cohen began her project to photograph urban art and dispel some of the negative connotations associated with graffiti.
Entitled ‘The Writing’s On The Wall’, her photographs aim to show the complementary relationship between the art form and the urban landscape, illustrating how graffiti can enhance the cityscape.
Each print will be displayed in a unique frame made of out materials inspired by graffiti and the cityscape.
Ness explained: “The idea of working lots of different aspects simultaneously helps to give the audience an ‘experience’ of urban culture in Manchester, rather than simply viewing images.”
CAPTURED: Ness Cohen’s photography hopes to dispel negative connotations of graffiti
The exhibition will run from September 4 for eight weeks and feature a silent auction across the entire period, with any proceeds going to the local homeless charity Mustard Tree.
Mustard Tree is a charity based in Manchester that provides a range of projects to help homeless and marginalised people.
As well as providing food, clothes and shelter, they provide short and long course, as well as projects aiming to deal with the personal root cause of destructive behaviour.
Ness said: “The project is about graffiti and its relationship with the cityscape. It celebrates the richness and diversity of urban culture and the role of street art and its artists.
“Graffiti and street art are rife within the urban environment and my intention is to showcase graffiti from an alternative angle.”
The exhibition’s opening night will also feature a raffle, with a chance to win signed prints and graffiti pieces, as well as live graffiti painting from popular street artist Russ Meehan.
The event is free to attend, so head down to Terrace in the Northern Quarter from 7pm onwards.
For more details visit Ness Cohen’s website.
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