The Arts & Culture Journal

Oliver Rudkin’s latest work is a furrowing exploration into the community centres of Cornwall. The poorest county in England. Oliver’s work does not tackle the individual in a conventional, portraiture sense, but rather, uncovers the personalities and traumas through the environments in which they inhabit.

The result is an intriguing game of educated guessing and confirmation as each photograph rewards extended viewing.

Photographing desolate community centres, Oliver’s photographs allow a private, behind-the-scenes view of lonely corridors and empty rooms that could have been left for thirty years or thirty minutes. The dated furnishings insinuate a paucity familiar to abandoned homes and although each frame captures a miss-match collection of furniture, every room feels empty.

Oliver’s clever use of light means we are left staring at pictures that often contain contrasting emotions. In ‘number 03’ the brightness and hope of the outdoors is in stark contrast to the gloom of the interior. Indeed, the outdoors offers very little at all, yet in comparison to the sultry classroom (complete with two confrontational and aggressive toy animals) we are left gazing out like a naughty child whose been kept in after class.

The discomfort many of these photographs capture leaves a haunting ambience to the community centres featured and is a damning reflection on the poor funding of such worthwhile projects. Oliver’s work offers an impartial glimpse down corridors and through windows, capturing the valiant but transparent attempts at dressing mutton as lamb.