ROBERT WILSON'S

Gallery One and a Half is proud to present Helmand Return, a new body of work by acclaimed photographer Robert Wilson, during East London’s Photomonth. This exhibition follows on from a highly successful nationwide billboard exhibition, which can be viewed online here.

Building on his 2008 project, Helmand, Wilson revisited Afghanistan in 2014 as an official war artist, this time to record the British troops' final tour of duty. This exhibition features the results of his endeavour, and offers a uniquely beautiful perspective on a much documented conflict with many never before recorded sights both on and off base.

These apolitical photographs allow a rare insight into the process of ending war, including the packing up and disposal of equipment. In each of the pictures, Wilson captures the essence of the human and logistical challenges faced during the transfer of responsibility and withdrawal.

In a year of retrospective imagery surrounding the centenary of WWI, these images provide a fresh perspective within the traditions of conflict photography.

Helmand Return is curated by Catherine Collins and Rhiannon Adam.

About Robert

Robert Wilson was born in London in 1969, graduated from Blackpool and The Fylde College, and has since built a highly successful career in commercial photography, specialising in portraiture. His personal work builds on this aesthetic, and it is this element that sets him apart from other photographers working within the documentary genre.

Wilson’s book, Helmand, recording the faces and places of the Afghan conflict, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2008. His work has been widely exhibited both in the UK and internationally, including at The National War Museum (Scotland), The Southbank Centre, Stade Hall, the International Shanghai Photographic Exhibition, and the gallery @ OXO in London. His photography has also been featured extensively in the national press including The Guardian, BBC, The Independent, The Times, and The Sunday Times.

October 17th - November 30th 2014