Michael Kenna, *East Pier, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England*, 1984 © Michael Kenna, Courtesy Robert Mann Gallery

Written by Michelle O’Malley

Edited by Jana Massoud

As humans, we are drawn to the past, no matter how counterproductive it may seem. We can’t help but revisit what once was in hopes of discovering something we may not have noticed all those years ago, our perspectives holding a different shape to themselves. Celebrated landscape photographer, Michael Kenna, followed this human inclination and studied his past in his latest exhibition, Northern England 1983-1986, which features his never before printed photographs taken over forty years ago of the varying parts of Northern England he grew up around.

Michael Kenna, *Sheep Pastures, Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England*, 1983 © Michael Kenna, Courtesy Robert Mann Gallery

It wasn’t until time stood still during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic that Kenna took the time for this reflection of his childhood roots by sifting through his camera negatives dating back to 1983, the starting point for his photography career. Born in 1953 in Widnes, England, Kenna was the youngest of six and grew up in a working-class Irish Catholic family. Following his familial faith, he attended seminary school with the intention of becoming a priest up until he was 18 when he then began attending the Banbury School of Art and later the London College of Printing to pursue his passion for photography. He eventually moved to the United States to launch his career.

Michael Kenna, *School Yard, Heptonstall, West Yorkshire, England*, 1983 © Michael Kenna, Courtesy Robert Mann Gallery

Depicting the relationship between natural landscapes and man-made structures, Kenna’s 1983-1986 works feature two similar industrial counties in Northern England, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Following the sudden decline and eventual collapse of booming textile industries in the 80s, Kenna made a point of capturing the beauty behind these factories’ downfalls by using his signature long exposure, dawn or dusk shots in the more quiet parts of the day.

Michael Kenna, *Washing Day, Colne, Lancashire, England,* 1986 © Michael Kenna, Courtesy Robert Mann Gallery

Through his continuous use of black and white photography, Kenna’s works emanate a mesmerizing, mysterious tone which seems to encourage viewers to construct their own meanings out of the shadows. In displaying landscapes desolate of people, action, and color, the effect is mystifying in a manner that suggests viewers gaze more intently upon not only the scenes themselves, but the views that we witness and take for granted everyday. In explaining his creative process, Kenna claims he “prefer(s) suggestion over description”, adding, “I like to use the analogy of haiku poetry where just a few elements act as catalysts for one’s imagination”. Thus, viewers have more autonomy over their own artistic perceptions.

Michael Kenna has published over 20 photography books featuring places from across the globe. His work has received numerous awards, most recently, the Special Photographer Award in Hokkaido, Japan. Northern England 1983-1986 was on display at the Robert Mann Gallery from February 3, 2022 to March 25, 2022. The exhibition is available as a Nazraeli Press Book, with signed copies for sale at the Robert Mann Gallery.