William Cuffay and the London Chartists, 1842 © Red Saunders. Cuffay, depicted here pointing to the 'People's Charter of 1842, was a Chartist leader and the son of an enslaved man of African heritage.
Red Saunders’ epic photographs recreate momentous but overlooked events from Britain’s struggle for democracy and equality, from the Peasants Revolt of 1381 to the Chartist movement of the mid-nineteenth century.
Shown as part of 'Ways of Looking' photography festival in Bradford in 2011, this major solo exhibition of Saunders’ work featured the world premiere of three dramatic new works, specially commissioned by Impressions Gallery and The Culture Company. The exhibition toured to People's History Museum, Manchester (2013), Winchester Discovery Centre (now The ARC) (2014) and to twelve schools in Bradford through the Hidden Schools Tour (2013 to 2014).
Focussing on the contributions of ordinary men and women, rather than the monarchs and ‘Great Men’ that dominate official history, Saunders seeks to shed light on the parallel, ‘hidden history’ of revolutionaries and radicals. Meticulously detailed, atmospherically lit, and historically accurate, each scene is recreated and posed by models, providing photographic ‘evidence’ for events that occurred before the widespread adoption of camera technology.
"My hope is that these images can give new life to these important episodes of working people’s history" - Red Saunders
The impressively large-scale works, some six metres long, feature amongst others William Cuffay, a black worker and son of a slave, signing the great ‘People’s Charter’ of 1842; Mary Wollstonecraft, the author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women and precursor of modern feminism; and triumphant rebel leader Wat Tyler after his peasant army seized London in 1381.
Unveiled for the first time in the exhibition, the first newly commissioned work focuses on women’s activism during the English Civil War (1642 – 1651), recreating a dusk campsite scene where female radicals address a large crowd of soldiers, Levellers and dissenters. The second, inspired by the nationwide agricultural Swing Riots of 1830, is a dramatic night scene where hooded farmworkers emerge from rushes to act against repressive landlord farmers. The third is a striking portrait of St Hilda, Abbess of Whitby and advocate for women's education.
The Swing Riots, 1830 © Red Saunders
Hild of Streonshalh (Hilda of Whitby), 614-680 © Red Saunders
Leveller Women in the English Revolution, 1647 © Red Saunders
Video: Making Hidden
Runtime 3 minutes
Produced by Impressions Gallery and National Media Museum for Ways of Looking Festival
Produced by Impressions Gallery and National Media Museum for Ways of Looking Festival
Praise for Hidden
"Stunning photographs... reminiscent of paintings by Old Masters" - Yorkshire Post
“I cannot possibly imagine the creativity and will needed to complete such a vast project, amazing work.” - exhibition visitor
"Epic tableaux vivants... hist latest work involved more than 40 local people dressed in costume" - The Guardian
“A most enjoyable look at some overlooked people throughout history. A nice alternative to the usual stories of historical events.” - exhibition visitor
"Just through looking at the pictures, bursting with colour and ideas, you get plunged headlong into the action." - Socialist Worker
“An amazing pictorial portrayal of heroes and heroines of our past, that most undoubtedly shaped our future!” - exhibition visitor
Hidden exhibition at Parkside Creative Learning Trust © Colin Davison / Impressions Gallery
Credits
An Impressions Gallery Touring Exhibition curated by Pippa Oldfield and Nicola Stephenson. Funded by National Lottery through Arts Council England, as part of Ways of Looking Festival of Photography. With thanks to Star Events Group, Phase One, Direct Lighting, Smart Van, Whitestone Arts, ImageCo, and the many participants, volunteers supporters who made this happen.