Exploring the Haunting Nightlife of South London
The dimly-lit streets of South London come alive as the night falls, revealing a mysterious and haunting side to the city. From eerie whispers to ghostly apparitions, the nightlife in this area is filled with tales of the supernatural and the unexplained.
One such exploration into the enigmatic world of South London’s nightlife is the exhibition titled “Whistling as the Night Calls.” This collaborative photographic work by Martin O’Brien and Zack Mennell delves into the shadows of abandoned sites, capturing the essence of performance actions that haunt the ruins of places like St Peter’s Seminary in Cardross, Scotland, and the desolate beaches of Dungeness on the Kent Coast.
Shot on 35mm Cinestill 800T film, the images in the exhibition showcase a unique blend of artistry and otherworldly presence. O’Brien, a renowned performance artist known for his endurance-based works exploring themes of life and illness, brings a depth of emotion to the photographs, while Mennell’s keen eye for detail captures the eerie atmosphere of the locations they chose to explore.
A Decade of Collaboration: O’Brien and Mennell’s Artistic Journey
For over a decade, O’Brien and Mennell have shared a creative partnership that has pushed the boundaries of traditional art forms. Mennell’s self-taught approach to photography and performance art complements O’Brien’s avant-garde style, resulting in a body of work that challenges perceptions and evokes a sense of the unknown.
The exhibition “Whistling as the Night Calls” serves as a testament to their enduring collaboration, showcasing a series of photographs that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural. From haunting images of abandoned churches to surreal performances on desolate beaches, the exhibition invites viewers to step into a world where the boundaries of time and space are blurred.
A Journey into the Unknown: O’Brien and Mennell’s Vision
Through their collaborative work, O’Brien and Mennell seek to explore the hidden depths of the human experience, delving into themes of mortality, spirituality, and the afterlife. Their photographs capture moments of vulnerability and strength, offering a glimpse into a world where the mundane meets the mystical.
As O’Brien reflects on the process of creating the images for the exhibition, he speaks of the transformative power of collaboration and the ways in which his friendship with Mennell has shaped his artistic vision. Mennell, in turn, acknowledges the profound impact that their partnership has had on his own practice, citing the shared exploration of death and the beyond as a driving force behind their creative endeavors.
In the darkened corridors of abandoned buildings and windswept landscapes, O’Brien and Mennell’s photographs speak to a deeper truth about the human experience. They invite viewers to contemplate the mysteries of life and death, the seen and the unseen, and the boundaries that separate the living from the dead.
As “Whistling as the Night Calls” opens its doors to the public, it offers a glimpse into a world where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, where the echoes of the past linger in the shadows, and where the night calls out with a haunting melody that beckons the curious and the brave.