Exhibitions >

Artists: Richard Davies

Cost: free

Richard Davies is a photographer working mainly in the field of
architecture, art and design. His clients include Foster and Partners,
David Chipperfield, John Pawson and Future Systems.
Richard Davies has been photographing the wooden churches in the
Russian North since 2002.
In 1902 the Russian artist, stage designer and illustrator Ivan Bilibin
travelled to the Vologda Province in the North of Russia. As well as
collecting and studying the local folk art he drew and photographed
the wooden church architecture. Seeing his images set Richard off on
his travels. He was interested to see if any of these buildings had
survived the ravages of time and Communism. He has travelled to the
Russian North every year since. Many churches do still exist and
recently work has started on the restoration of a few but most are in a
perilous state and will not survive for many more years.
Wooden architecture is central to Russian culture and its
disappearance, which at the moment seems probable, despite the
efforts of many dedicated specialists and enthusiasts, would be a
great and shameful loss.
Since February 2006 he has travelled with the writer Matilda Moreton.
As a Russian speaker her interviews with local people, historians and
other experts has given them a deeper understanding of the churches
place in the community together with insights into the lives of the
people they have met.
In 2007/8 they had an exhibition at the Schusev State Museum of
Architecture in Moscow. It was very well received and attended. In
2010 they will exhibit the images at the Douma (Russian Parliament)
again in Moscow where they hope they will attract the attention of
those who could certainly ensure the survival of these extraordinary
buildings.
A book entitled ‘Wooden Churches - travelling in the Russian North’ by
Richard Davies and Matilda Moreton will be published in the autumn of
2010.
The images will also be shown at the Museum of Finnish Architecture in
Helsinki 10th March - 30th May 2010

Event website: www.ipgbattle.com

The Dates

On Sat 12 December 09 until
Sat 16 January 10

The Venue

Indepedent Photographers Gallery