Seeing is Believing explores photography's strong relationship to the non-rational, the unknown and the ethereal. It brings together vintage photographs from the archive of the Harry Price Library of Magical Literature, with work by seven international artists who share a fascination for the unexplained.
Known as Britain's most famous ghost investigator, Harry Price (b. 1881, London) set up the National Laboratory of Psychical Research in 1925. This exhibition includes documentation of the Borley Rectory Haunting, the Crawley Poltergeist and various spiritual mediums.
The contemporary photographers in Seeing is Believing explore the alchemical properties of photography and its ability to suggest unusual phenomena.
Clare Strand (b.1973, UK) creates black & white aura portraits of young women, Tim Maul (b.1951, USA) documents areas of New York which indicate a spirit presence, Susan MacWilliam (b.1969, UK) works closely within areas of psychic research, and Ben Judd's (b.1970, UK) stereoscopic works examine susceptibility and delusion.
The visionary power of the photograph influences Roger Ballen (b.1950, USA) who combines automatic drawing and performance to create savage, surreal tableaux. Florencia Durante (b.1976, Spain) records the power and energy of light and Fred Ressler (b.1941, USA) captures ghost-like faces and figures emerging from shadows.
This exhibition is made possible with thanks to Senate House Library, University of London.
For further information on this and past exhibitions, visit our Archive and Study Room.
