In 2014 recent graduate Lucy Hutchinson was awarded a residency to respond to the collection at the Library of Birmingham and make new work for exhibition.  I Sell the Shadow to Save the Substance was based upton the artist’s research into the Carte-de-Visite archives at the Library of Birmingham.  Through the archive she explored aspects of gesture, class, status and wealth and in her new work performed for the camera to create female identities directly inspired by the archive.    

By merging contemporary and historical symbols linked with ‘Britishness’—from influential designers to concepts of moral hierarchy within the British middle class—the artist explored how these characters displayed their status. The artwork questioned the significance of authenticity in images and probed how these individuals represented their social standing.

The work was exhibited on The Photographers’ Wall, The Library of Birmingham.

Image Credit: © Lucy Hutchinson