Andy Spain - 'Sanctuary' - Photospace Gallery, 3rd February to 26 February, 2023

Andy Spain - 'Sanctuary' - Photospace Gallery, 3rd Feb to 26 Feb 2023

Sanctuary
Pandemics, mental health crisis, inequality, the rise of the far right, war on the border of Europe, it's not surprising we all need a special place to go to. I asked people where their place of Sanctuary was and arranged to photograph them in it."
- Andy Spain

During the early months of the pandemic Andy did a course to shake up his photography practice of 30 years. Forced to re-consider why he was a photographer, what began to emerge was his continual search for a place of home and the comfort that the act of photography gave him. His project, Sanctuary, was born. He set out to find other people's places of Sanctuary, allowing him a privileged access to people and places.

Over the course of the last three years, Andy has photographed Wellington residents in their place of Sanctuary, where the space around the subject is as important as the portrait itself. During his ongoing project, Andy realised that his place of Sanctuary was out with his camera meeting these subjects and sharing a short moment about their life and story.

 Review of 'Sanctuary' by Mark Amery in Domionion Post 11 Feb 2023 and on Stuff

'Fiona, Devil's Gate, Red Rocks, Te Whanganui-a-Tara' - photo by Andy Spain from 'Sanctuary'

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Andy Spain
In 2020 the Alexander Turnbull Library collected Andy's 'Cuba Street Portraits' and 'Love is Understanding' series to preserve in the nation's archive. In 2021 he was shortlisted for the international Architectural Photography Awards and in 2022 he was presented the President's Award by the NZIA for his contribution to architectural photography. His work was shortlisted in the International Photography Awards in 2021 and 2022.

Andy is from the UK and moved to Aotearoa in 2015. He works as a photographer with an emphasis on architecture and portraiture.

'Karl in his studio, Island Bay, Te Whanganui-a-Tara' - photo by Andy Spain from his 'Sanctuary' series

DomPost review 11/2/23 - top section

DomPost review 11/2/23 - lower section