Please note - this event is now fully booked and we would advise you not to come unless you have registered for a place.
Redeye is pleased to announce its first networking event of the year in Liverpool with Open Eye Gallery, scheduled to tie in with their current exhibition The Piers from Here. This evening of talks looks at the sex work trade from two very different perspectives: firstly Precious by Jane Hilton explores the sex workers of ranches in Nevada, USA, the only state where prostitution is legal. The Women of Casa X by Malcolm Venville follows this. This series of portraits looks at a house set up for sex-workers over the age of 50 in Tepito, one of Mexico City’s most infamous neighbourhoods. The talks are followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Michelle Stoops of SAFE Place Merseyside and with panel member Julie Connolley of Streetwise Liverpool.
We believe this is the first time these two photographers have been brought together, and this event promises to be a fascinating insight into photography, prostitution and exploitation.
We will also have 15 copies of each book available to purchase on the night on first come first served basis. The books are prices at £35 and we can accept cash only.
About the Photographers
Jane Hilton
Jane Hilton, photographer and filmmaker lives in London. She started out as a classical musician, graduating in 1984 with a BA (Hons) in Music and Visual Art from Lancaster University. Her love of photography brought her to London, working as an assistant for numerous fashion and advertising photographers, before going it alone in 1988. Early work included both fashion and editorial alongside her documentary projects, which is the mainstay and passion of her work today.
"My work is about the extraordinary realities of ordinary people's everyday lives, revealing their individual characteristics and ways of being that one so often overlooks."
It was on her first trip to Arizona in 1988, that she discovered an obsession for America and American culture. The contradictions in American society and the American dream is a recurring theme. Her work in Las Vegas is the epitome of this, where the line between fantasy and reality is constantly blurred. The transient nature of Vegas mixed with the incessant gambling philosophy provides a unique breeding ground for characters who live out these contradictions. Her series Forever Starts Now on the McDonald's style wedding culture illustrates this.
From proclamations of everlasting happiness in Vegas, Jane hit the empty desert roads of Nevada ending up 350 miles away near Reno, where a roadside brothel called Madam Kitty's Cathouse caught her eye. This chance encounter became a two year project and resulted in a ten-part documentary series for the BBC, The Brothel/Love For Sale, as well as a series of exhibitions on desert landscapes, pimps and prostitutes.
Inspired by a commission in 2006 to photograph a 17 year old cowboy, Jeremiah Karsten, who travelled 4,000 miles on horseback from his native Alaska to Mexico, Jane set off on her own four year pilgrimage, criss-crossing the cowboy states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming to capture America's 21st century cowboys which culminated in her 2010 book Dead Eagle Trail.
For her latest book Jane has returned to the brothels of Nevada. Precious is a collection of intimate nude portraits of working girls from the only state in America where prostitution is legal. The women are all from different cultural backgrounds and the variety of ages and body shapes represented challenge the traditional idea of beauty. Jane was privileged to stay in many of the brothels during this project and the trust and friendship this engendered is clear in the portraits.
Malcolm Venville
Malcolm Venville is a photographer and director of commercials, feature films and music videos.
Venville has directed television campaigns for companies such as Nike, Xbox, Volkswagen, Google and Guinness. Much of his work as been awarded, with campaigns receiving Lions at Cannes, Clio Awards and ANDY Awards, Grandy and ACIP’s Award of Overall Excellence and Emmy nominations.
Venville’s first feature, 44 Inch Chest, stars Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson and was awarded the Special Jury Prize and the Seville Film Festival. Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga and James Caan star in Venville’s second feature Henry’s Crime. He’s also directed short films including Remembering Sister Ruth and Silent Film.
Venville has published four work of photography: Lucha Loco (Therapy 2006) is a collection of Lucha Libre wrestler portraits. His monograph Layers (Spin 2003) documents Venville’s career as an art and advertising photographer; Dressed to Kill (Rizzoli 2012) invites readers to the jazz age fashion on the 1920’s and the recently released Women of Casa X (Schlit 2013) explores the lives of elderly sex workers in Mexico City.
Venue and Timing
The event will take place from 18:30 at Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, L3 1BP. If coming by car, please follow signs to the city centre and Albert Dock. There is free parking across the city from 6pm with plenty of places to park in and around the waterfront area. Open Eye Gallery is a 15-20 minute walk from Lime Street and Central Train Stations and a 5 minute walk from James Street station.
Doors will open at 18:30 for non alcoholic refreshments and networking, with the talks starting at 19:00.
Places are free but booking is essential. To book your place, please click Register Now below.
This event is not suitable for children.
Donations: please consider clicking one of the donation tickets when registering – this helps Redeye to fund events such as this.