Paul Weller
The Solo Years Photographs
by
Lawrence Watson
" Just outside Birmingham, in a gallery nestled into the heart of Fort Dunlop, lies a piece of Weller heaven open until September 22nd."
" The Solo Years is a series of 47 portraits by Paul Weller's favourite photographer, Lawrence Watson. Lawrence's first encounter of the Weller kind was in 1988 when the photographer was given the nod by Shane (a friend who later married Mick Talbot) who worked in the LWT press office. She knew that Lawrence was a massive Jam fan and arranged for him to be allowed to take photos when The Style Council were playing a performance for their Confessions of a Pop Group album. He told us he spent the weekend in the dark room processing the prints and, wasting no time, headed to what was Mr Weller's London studio, Solid Bond, on the following Monday with a big box. He was hoping that Paul might like one or two, but in true fairy tale-style, Mr Weller loved the photos and gave Lawrence his first big break. Although the album had been designed, Weller decided that Watson's photos would be used for the album artwork. "I floated home from Solid Bond as high as a kite", Lawrence told us and he's been Weller's regular snapper ever since."
" The exhibition covers all of Weller's solo career so far and, as well as blinding live shots from gigs in Amsterdam, New York and London, there are several never-before published. Absolute gems include a stunning portrait, The Collector, showing Weller at home with some of his enormous collection of vinyl. There's also a photo of Paul in Margate on his Stanley Road scooter and a triptych of shots from the Irving Plaza gigs in New York last January."
" Some of the photographs are mounted on to perspex which gives a dreamy 3-D quality to them. Snap Galleries is owned by Guy White who has paid meticulous attention to detail. He's produced a beautiful comprehensive catalogue which is free to visitors and alongside the art, the gallery staff are playing Weller sounds non-stop as well as showing DVDs. The prints are only available in very limited amounts - just 25 of each in the small size (40cm x 40cm, £595) and only 1 supersize (120cm x 120cm £3,500) edition of 42 shots. Don't be put off if you cannot afford to buy, any Weller fan that can get to Birmingham has to see this exhibition. There may well be a couple of special events (check the website for the latest) and Fort Dunlop's got an unbelievably cool Travel Lodge with circular windows and top notch rooms which cost just a few quid more than a ride across town in a London taxi. After dwelling in Weller heaven for a while, you can leave with a fantastic catalogue and sets of badges will be available at very reasonable rates soon.""Every photograph in this exhibition and has been taken on film and expertly processed. There isn't a single digital or Photoshop-enhanced print. And what is really special is that in all of the shots there is no sense of the photographer's presence. Lawrence literally makes himself invisible and the subject is left to speak for himself. Which means you get to see among other things, Weller's wit which is seldom captured in photos."
"Many photographs from Lawrence Watson's Paul Weller archive will feature in the forthcoming limited edition book, A Thousand Things, published by Genesis Publications later this year."
Words: Marian BuckleyLawrence Watson
Portrait: Marian Buckley
All other photos © Lawrence Watson
Snap Galleries,Fort Dunlop,Fort Parkway,Birmingham B24 9FD.Tel: 0121 748 3408.
Paul Weller The Solo Years opened Saturday July 7 and runs until September 22.
courtesy www.fuk.co.uk
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