220 Newspaper Posters for Shutter Hub's Photomonth Exhibition

Shutter Hub is a London-based organisation that supports a worldwide network of photographers. They recently wrote to us with an ambitious idea for an exhibition: to display 220 images, created by 150 photographers, on newsprint posters.

According to Shutter Hub founder Karen Harvey, newsprint offers "a new and democratic way of exhibiting photography." But initially, the artists involved were skeptical. "Nearly every one of the photographers we showcased shared the same question, 'Will it look any good?'" Harvey told us. "And the answer turned out to be, Yes, better than you could have ever imagined!"

The Shutter Hub OPEN exhibition was on display from 4 - 9 October at the Old Truman Brewery in London, as part of Photomonth. Over 500 visitors showed up for the opening night, with thousands more stopping by over the weekend. In Harvey's words: "We thought it would be good, but it’s been epic! It inspired so many connections, friendships, plans and a couple invitations for us to take Shutter Hub exhibitions elsewhere, too."

We've roundup up some scenes from the exhibition below – and keep scrolling to see the image awarded Best in Show and meet Héloïse Bergman, the photographer who took it.

The Shutter Hub OPEN 2018 Private View at The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

Installation shot of the Shutter Hub OPEN 2018, The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

Installation shot of the Shutter Hub OPEN 2018 at The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

Installation shot of the Shutter Hub OPEN 2018, The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

The Shutter Hub OPEN 2018 Private View, The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

Installation shot of the Shutter Hub OPEN 2018 at The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

Installation shot of the Shutter Hub OPEN 2018 at The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

Installation shot of the Shutter Hub OPEN 2018, The Old Truman Brewery, London. Photograph by Karen Harvey.

And the winner is....

Visitors to the Shutter Hub OPEN exhibition were invited to cast their vote for the Best in Show award. After tallying several hundreds votes, Shutter Hub announced the winning image: Brick Lane Girl by New Zealand-born photographer Héloïse Bergman.

© Heloise Bergman – Shutter Hub OPEN 2018

We caught up with Bergman after her win, to find out more about the image and what's she's working on next.

Can you tell us about your winning image, Brick Lane Girl?

I entered two images from my XX projects, which are focused on the female gaze. The winning image, Brick Lane Girl was inspired by Dutch and Flemish painters such as Johannes Vermeer – I wanted to capture timelessness and ambiguity.

Earlier this summer the image was featured in the Royal Academy 250th Summer Exhibition this year, where it was hung on hallowed walls alongside work of all types and sizes. But Brick Lane Girl was actually shot very near The Old Truman Brewery (where the Shutter Hub OPEN exhibition was held) in a vintage shop called Rokit – so it was great to see her back in her neighbourhood, accessible to all.

What did you think about how your image was displayed at the Shutter Hub OPEN?

I loved the Shutter Hub display. I'm interested in photography as a visual language, and I really liked the democracy of the newsprint images. Displayed in floor-to-ceiling grids across the walls, all the images were made equal, each contributing a small piece of the overall narrative.

Do you shoot with an analogue or digital camera?

For portraits, especially when I'm working with marginalised people and making environmental portraits, I shoot using digital – it allows me to focus entirely on the subject and their story. However, I love film and if the context is there I'm always pleased to return to the traditional process!

Can you tell us about something you're working on next?

My current personal project is Tā Moko - Modern Māori Warriors, a series of collaborative portraits and interviews with New Zealand's indigenous Māori. They have reclaimed their cultural heritage in a post-colonial society by having traditional facial tattoos.

I have been working on this project for the last five years – returning home to New Zealand (Aotearoa) and travelling the country photographing and recording the testimonies of the new generations of Māori who have revived the facial tattooing as a symbol of their traditional identity.

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