Ashburton – Proof of Identity
Almost a century ago, the first photobooth was created. Using wet chemistry to develop the photos within the booth itself, these automatic passport photo machines became a common feature in railway stations and stores across the globe. It wasn’t until the 1970s that colour booths were introduced and at that point the old black and white ones were phased out. Since then, of course, digital technology has taken over, and there are only a handful of the original analogue booths left in the UK.
Following a grant from Teignbridge District Council, I will be bringing one of these original black and white booths back to Devon for the first time in over half a century.
The booth will be sited at Ashburton Arts Centre for the month of October, where I will be inviting residents of the town to join me each weekend to help create a large-scale artwork using the booth.
Directed by me, you will be asked to pose for an individual photo strip. These strips will then be used to create a collective piece that will serve as both an archive of the people of the town in 2024, and a celebration of its community.
All residents of Ashburton are invited to take part – there is no cost to participate.
These vintage machines offer both nostalgia and artistic promise. The perfect antidote to digital selfie culture (photobooths were the original selfie maker after all), I’m looking forward to hearing older residents reminisce about when they last used a machine like this, and to seeing younger residents experience the joy of analogue.
This will be a unique experience, and the end result will be a unique artwork that celebrates the people of the town. It will also become a powerful archive for future generations to look back on.Watch the BBC Spotlight coverage of the project here:
The finished artwork will be exhibited in three venues across the town: Field System, the Arts Centre and St Andrew’s Church, from January 20th to February 1st 2025.
Notes for editors
For further information, high resolution images or to speak to Kate, please email on katetyler@iname.com
About Kate Tyler
Kate Tyler is an established artist with a long history of using analogue booths in her work. Widely exhibited, including at the National Portrait Gallery, Kate is also a featured artist in Raynal Pellicer’s book ‘Photobooth: The Art of the Automatic Portrait’. In siting the booth in Ashburton, a historical market town with a creative edge, Kate hopes to engage everyone within the community, and to showcase the town’s rural and urban characteristics.