Rhiannon Adam
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Rhiannon Adam [b.1985] is a photographic artist, born in Co. Cork, Ireland. Currently based in London, UK.
Adam’s work is heavily influenced by her nomadic childhood spent at sea, sailing around the world with her parents. Little photographic evidence of this period in her life exists, igniting an interest in the influence of photography on recall, the notion of the photograph as a physical object, and the image as an intersection between fact and fiction – themes that continue throughout her work.
Her long-term projects straddle art photography and social documentary, while subject matter is often focused on complex narratives relating to climate change, social injustice, outsider communities, and abuse of power. Within that, she is drawn to stories relating to the power of myth, and the often-close proximity between utopia and dystopia. The results of these explorations are captured almost exclusively in ambient light through the hazy abstraction of degrading Polaroid and colour negative film, and are often contrasted with the stark reality of archive material. Antiquated photographic processes, and experimental methods, used to capture the seemingly invisible, are also a key elements of her practice.
In 2015, supported by the BBC/Royal Geographical Society, Adam travelled to the remote island community of Pitcairn in the South Pacific. Pitcairn measures just two miles by one mile and is home to just 42 British subjects, descendants from the Mutiny on the Bounty. A decade ago, the island’s romantic image was tarnished by a string of high–profile sexual abuse trials, as a result, islanders are particularly reticent about accepting outsiders. With trip duration dictated by the quarterly supply vessel, there would be no way off for three arduous months. Adam’s project is the first in-depth photographic project to take place on the island, and made its debut at Francesca Maffeo Gallery in Spring 2018. The project won the Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography in 2020. The resulting book, Big Fence / Pitcairn Island (Blow Up Press), was released in April 2022 on the anniversary of the Bounty Mutiny and was shortlisted for the 2022 Kraszna Krausz Foundation book awards.
In 2022, she was announced as one of eight crew members (all creatives) selected for the first civilian lunar orbital mission; dearMoon, funded by Japanese entrepreneur, Yusaku Maezawa (MZ). The trip will last for approximately one week, and is currently planned for 2023 aboard SpaceX’s Starship.
Rhiannon Adam attended Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (studying Arts, Design, and Environment) and the University of Cambridge (English literature). Her work has been shortlisted for, and won, numerous awards, including the Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography and was named as one of The Photographers’ Gallery’s New Talents in 2019. Her work has been published widely in the press, including Le Monde, The Telegraph, the BBC, The British Journal of Photography, Stern, Huffington Post, and the New York Times.
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Enquiries: tom@opendoors.gallery
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Selected Links
TPG | New Talent 2019
BBC | Journey of a Lifetime
The Messy Truth, podcast | On Abundance
dearMoon | SpaceX Mission
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Series
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Rhiannon Adam: Iceland, Yellow House, 2023
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Rhiannon Adam: AJ, Brighton, 30 May, 202
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Rhiannon Adam: Iceland Waterfall, 2023
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Rhiannon Adam: San Francisco Balloons, 2023
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Rhiannon Adam: Lake Salda, Turkey, 2023
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Rhiannon Adam: California Riviera, Pink Tyres, 2023
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Rhiannon Adam: Burning, Up Tibi, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Cushana and the Frigates, Down Landing, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Christian’s Cave, The Omniscient Eye, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Olive Christian, Public Works, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: The Devil Makes Work For Idle Hands (Irma Christian), 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Steve Christian’s Fishing Rod, Down Landing, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Brenda Christian, Pommy Ridge, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Kevin Young, Up Tibi, 2022
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Rhiannon Adam: Mike Warren, Taro Ground Radio Station, 2022
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