Shashi Patel

"Muriel, Vauxhall City Farm"
by Shashi Patel
hand printed photograph
£340.00

Artist's Statement

I am a self-taught photographer with help during my evening classes. I first got interested in black and photography taking photographs of my two children, and wanted to process and print myself at my evening classes. During 1983 to 1988
I would not go out without a camera. The camera became part of me no matter where I went. I spent weekends wandering around, taking mainly black and white photographs of any subject that interested me including manhole covers, letter forms, vegetables, buildings, people etc. I spent two evenings per week in the darkroom, printing and experimenting. I was totally obsessed with the medium.
I became increasingly frustrated at that stageof my development. As I progressed
I realised the need to go full time to a college and spend more time on what I wanted to achieve. Unfortunately I had to drop photography due to personal circumstances. After a long gap I am delighted to say it is gradually creeping back and I continue to work on my own projects, in colour and black and white.

I have not been influenced by any particular photographer but I have always loved the images by the late Jane Brown and recently with the work by Nan Goldin.