BA Phot

Don McCullin at Tate Britain

11Mar19

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McCullib
artist's statement

b: 1935 London
Wikipedia

The danger is with an exhibition this size devoted to a photographer best know for his work in war zones and other (to understate it) trouble spots is that the result becomes a relentless parade of atrocity porn and poverty porn. Despite occasional relief and the landscape and still life pieces at the end, that is what this show is about — Men's (for it is almost always men) inhumanity to men, women and children.

We should probably be grateful that these events have been documented and that McCullin took responsibility for visiting these abattoirs on our behalf: the least we can do is to attend the exhibition and see the outcome. Half way through there is a slide show of images, often in colour, from magazine covers and articles. This is watched in reverential or perhaps stunned silence by a seated audience of 50 or 100 people while others file past to the next room. All the hung exhibits are in black and white.

Now seems a good time to document some key war photographers.

London, 1960s

Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin
Box A
1. Sheep
2. Hessel Street
3.. Ban the Bomb
4. Cuban Missile Crisis
© Don McCullin

Cyprus, 1964; Biafra, 1967;

Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin
Box B
5. Cyprus civil war
6.. British soldiers
7. Ibo soldier
8. Those chosen to live
© Don McCullin

South Vietnam, 1968

Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin
Box C
9. Old Vietnamese man
10. Soldiers' confessions
11. South Vietnam
12. Shell-shocked US marine
13-14. McCullin's camera and helmet
© Don McCullin

London, 1970; Northern Ireland, 1971

Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin
Box D
15. Homeless Irishman
16. Homeless Irishman
17. Aldgate East
18. British soldiers
19. Londonderry
© Don McCullin

There is a striking symmetry between figs. 17 and 19: the insouciance of the British to their surroundings.

Northern England, 1960s-70s; Kurdistan, 1991

Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin
Box E
20-21. Consett
22. Doncaster
23. Kurdistan
© Don McCullin

Fig. 20 is my favourite image in the show.

Landscapes and Still Life

Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin Don McCullin
Box F
24-28. Lanscapes
29. Still Life
© Don McCullin