Clouds Descending by Jem Southam at Tullie House

by Jem Southam

The Cumbrian coast played an important role in the work of LS Lowry. He often stayed with friends in Whitehaven and with Sheila Fell in Aspatria. From here he explored the coastline and landscape, taking particular pleasure in the dilapidated buildings of Cleator Moor and Maryport harbour. In 2007, photographer Jem Southam was commissioned by the Lowry in Salford to make his own response to the Cumbrian coastline. Retracing Lowry’s steps, Southam walked the 50 mile stretch of coast from Maryport to Barrow-in-Furness and produced a series of photographs that focus on the relationship between the landscape and manmade remnants of the region’s industrial past – including harbours, plants, chimneys and slag heaps.
 
As an introduction to Clouds Descending, Tullie House will also be making a selection of objects from its permanent collections to ‘unpick a landscape’ and will be initiating a conversation between our Keepers of Art, Natural History, Social History and Archaeology about what one single view means to them from each of their respective disciplines.
Please note, the exhibition will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
 
Clouds Descending has been organised by The Lowry, Salford with generous support from The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and The University of Plymouth.