Award-winning photographer Ingrid Pollard is searching for a group of men whose portraits she took 35 years ago at Tulse Hill School in south London.
These photographs, captured in 1989, are set to feature in a major exhibition at Tate Britain later this month.
Pollard, a Turner Prize nominee, was invited by an English teacher to photograph her final class before the school’s closure in 1990.
The boys, who would now be in their late 40s or early 50s, were captured using a medium-format camera in a carefully staged setup.
“They had certainly not been photographed that way before,” Pollard explained, adding that the portraits made the students feel special.
“I like the interaction between me and the boys. They might have been shy, but they weren’t uncomfortable because they were with their mates.”
The exhibition, titled The 80s: Photographing Britain, explores the socio-economic and cultural shifts during Margaret Thatcher’s time in power.
This marks the first time Pollard’s portraits of the Tulse Hill students will be displayed in the UK.
Pollard hopes to trace the men to acknowledge them in the exhibition.
“I’ve often wondered what they’re doing now, if they’re still in south London or even in the UK,” she said. “If we find some of the boys, they might remember people’s names. They could still be friends.”
At the time of capturing these images, Pollard was part of the alternative art scene, far removed from mainstream recognition.
“We weren’t expecting to be in the Tate,” she reflected.
“It was very much an alternative space for women and Black people, who were often excluded.”
Decades later, Pollard has gained significant recognition, with her work showcased at the Hayward Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Earlier this year, she won the prestigious Hasselblad Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Photography.”
Reflecting on her journey, Pollard said, “It’s about time [my work is recognized], but I always knew my work was noteworthy and important.”
The exhibition promises to shine a light on Pollard’s talent while revisiting a pivotal moment in her career—and perhaps reconnecting her with the individuals who brought her portraits to life.
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