Meakin + Parsons x Hannah Payne is delighted to present Into the Woods, a solo exhibition of photography by contemporary artist Aliki Braine, curated by Rodrigo Orrantia, from 14 April – 6 May. Coinciding with Photo Oxford Festival 2023, the exhibition celebrates the festival’s theme ‘The Hidden Power of The Archive’, considering the portrayal of woods throughout art history, from the depiction of forests in historical painting as a space for battle or confrontation, to a space for memory, and its connection to representation of landscape in contemporary photography today.

Into The Woods draws upon Braine’s studies of both fine art, and western history of art, especially of 17th Century landscape painting, and her explorations of mechanical processes in photography that act as conversation between the past and present. The exhibition takes people on a journey from the gallery to the museum, looking specifically at the connection with Paolo Uccello’s The Hunt, a painting in the permanent collection at the Ashmolean, Oxford, that has inspired the artist’s oeuvre.

“Uccello’s trees seem just as regimented and equally theatrical, and despite the hunts and battles in progress among them, they provide a smoothly organised and calm backdrop, whereas by contrast the jagged edges of Aliki Braine’s renditions have a more dangerous and unsettling feel. Impolite and ill-mannered indeed, she breaks the spell of the enchanted forest, yet perversely undermines a destructive intent by casting her own spell to conjure up an equally bewitching woodland tale.” John Hilliard. Excerpt from exhibition text, Disenchanted Forests, January 2023

Talks & Events:

Exhibition Tours and In Conversation events will take place on Thursdays at the gallery during Photo Oxford Festival.

Private View: Thursday 13th April, 6 – 8 pm, drinks reception.

Artist-led Exhibition Tours: Thursdays 20th, 27th April and 4th May, 3 pm – 4. 30 pm

Join artist Aliki Braine for a tour of her solo exhibition ‘Into The Woods’ at Meakin + Parsons x Hannah Payne gallery, including a visit to The Ashmolean museum to see the old master paintings from the permanent collection that have inspired the artists photography practice.

Evening Talks: 6 – 7.30pm Thursdays during the festival:

-       Thursday 20th April: Aliki Braine, artist, in conversation with exhibition curator, Rodrigo Orrantia

-       Thursday 27th April: Aliki Braine, artist, in conversation with Martin Barnes, Senior Curator of Photography at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (V&A).

-       Thursday 4th May: Aliki Braine, artist, in conversation with Professor Jane Garnett, Tutor in Modern History, Wadham College, University of Oxford.

To book events visit the gallery website

For more information about the festival visit photooxford.org

Image credits:

Top, Aliki Braine, Hunting (1), 2008, Black and white photograph from hole-punched negative, 38 x 48 cm, Edition of 3

Bottom, Aliki Braine, Spotted (after Uccello), 2022, Stickered album pages, 32 x 70.5 cm Unique Print

Landing page image: Aliki Braine, Into The Woods (Shredded), Colour photograph from shredded negative, 110 x 50 cm, Unique Print, framed.