Billingham became recognised for the comical photos he took of his family in the 90’s. The artist shot his photos using colour fujifilm.

I think Billingham was humiliated by his family. I imagine him as this figure in the background quietly observing his humiliating, loud and obnoxious family. He was clearly the odd one out.

Growing up, Billingham was quite introverted. At college he would hide the true identity of the people in his photos for fear of being ridiculed by the more financially-stable students.

When I was at College, I researched Billingham’s work as part of my project.

I’d say Billingham’s work is more documentary-based than anything. Also, the work shows the highs and lows of his parents’ marriage and their on-off relationship. Have you noticed how there are more images of his dad than his mum? This is because she often left after arguing with her husband.

I think Billingham’s work talks about poverty. Looking at photos of his dad you can tell he was struggling with an addiction. Billingham’s mum was also struggling to deal with her husband’s alcohol problem.

“It is certainly not my intention to shock, to offend, sensationalise, be political or whatever. Only to make work that is as spiritually meaningful as I can make it. Whatever the medium.”

Despite the fact that I feel the work is also about austerity, Billingham apparently intended the work to be funny and nothing more. Maybe this has more to do with the humiliation he felt towards his family than anything else? I also think it’s good that he was able to make a joke of the situation rather than be depressed about it.

This is a pretty funny photo. Billingham has managed to catch his dad flinging the cat into the air.

It looks as though he’s caught his parents mid-argument. His mum can clearly see her husband has an alcohol problem, but he looks the stubborn type who’d choose not to listen.

I’ve noticed his face is slightly blurred here, and it’s almost as if the photographer has created a visual representation of his father’s drunkenness.

I find this one melancholic, which I think is down to the cold colour balance going on here. In some of the photos of Billingham’s dad such this one, I actually feel sorry for him as he seems a bit of a character. The question is: what’s driven him to drink so much? Is it the convenience of cheap home-made brew that’s the problem here?

Reference:

Saatchi Gallery (2019) Ray’s a Laugh. Available at: https://www.saatchigallery.com/artists/richard_billingham.htm (Accessed: 26.05.19)