Philip Butler is a self-taught Worcestershire based photographer with a keen interest in inter-war design, specifically early Modernism and Art Deco.
Butler has been documenting the remains of Britain’s architecture from this period, within which are the signs of the nation’s first steps into the Modernist architectural movement, with the aim of “capturing what is left of ‘yesterday’s future’ while it remains standing”.
Philip was involved with the Norman Rea Gallery’s ‘Communal Spaces’ exhibition in November 2018.
This exhibition similarly invited the exploration of cultural shifts affecting communities, and how communal spaces have become themselves excluded and vacant.
Twelve images from Butler’s ‘Odeon Relics’ series were displayed in the exhibition. These photographs documented the surviving cinemas built by the Odeon chain in the 1930s.
The buildings were, in period, striking, neon-clad beacons of escapism at a time of economic difficulties, being symbols of modern, affordable luxury and important community assets.
Butler’s photographs display how these buildings have since changed, with many being repurposed, neglected or abandoned, losing their original community status and significance and leaving only the suggestion of their original allure in their distinct architecture amongst their surrounding now-modern counterparts.
A book containing the full ‘Odeon Relics’ series is set to be published in October 2019, and Butler is also currently working on a project exploring pre-war garages and petrol stations.
Work from Philip’s series will again be exhibited at the Norman Rea in celebration of the gallery’s upcoming tenth-year anniversary exhibition “TEN”. The exhibition aims to celebrate ten years of the Norman Rea Gallery by displaying a selection of artists and their works who have formed the Gallery’s history.
The exhibition will run 14th-28th October 2019 in the Norman Rea Gallery with preview night 14th October 7-10pm.
Written by Rosie Day