Current Artist Statement

Below is my current Artist Statement, this is not the final edit of this document because I have yet to have a tutor look over it for good. We have been asked to attend several sessions at which we are going to develop our critical writing and writing for the final show, this is where I intend to finalise my Artist Statement. Please take notice that this is an artist statement that is intended only for my final major project. 

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Ben Stokes is a Manchester born social documentary photographer whose current work has been revolving around the praise of the declining metal working industry in the UK. This body of work, “Tools of The Trade” is a digression from his previous set of real-life portraits. His current practice is presented by still lives taken in and around the metal working forge at which he has worked at for over 5 years, working within the industry unveiled a strong appreciation for this line of work. This unique mixture of still life and food photography sets out to depict the basic elements that enable these talented engineers to function, be that the food they eat or the tools that they utilize.

The staple diets of the men who work within the forge are of great interest to Stokes, he brings special attention to the fact that the basic foods that the men consume have been passed down through generation’s. The food that fuels these men to produce such unique outcomes has remained the same as when miners used to take pasties and loaves of bread down the mines for energy as well as ease.

Inextricably linked to the food still lives are the tools within the forge that have been passed down through generations. Each of the tools within these photographs has their own story to tell, their own history within the industry and their own personal connections. The inscriptions on each of the implements help to show this personal connection and how some of the tools have been hand crafted for specific engineers.

The backgrounds chosen for each of the photographs gives us detail of just how hard and physically demanding this way of life is, each dent and scratch can be seen in high definition which helps to show the years of wear that the surfaces have been through. This body of work is a document, a way of our ancestors seeing how our country became one of the leading figureheads in the industrial revolution and how this industry has been taken on a journey from then until now.