CENTRAL BELT
This series of images were all
produced in Scotland’s central belt between 1981-1984 and were culled from
35mm transparencies, hardcopy prints and photocopies.
These images have been re-photographed and scanned digitally. The original prints bear the scars of forty years of transportation, handling and multiple accommodation moves.
The concept of replicating photocopy images printed over forty years ago, and reinterpreting those images using current photographic processes feels significant in that time becomes the object in focus.
The central belt in the 80s was bleak like Tarkovsky’s Stalker. Long dead mining communities with the landscape visually dominated by monumental pyramids of shale.
I could see nine bings (shale heaps) as they were known locally from my childhood bedroom window. Most notably Balbakie dead centre looking south, Benhar to the west and Polkemmet to the east. In between these points were a myriad of smaller bings including the 15th with its ice-cold spring which can be seen directly behind Chris Duncan (on the left) in the first image in this sequence.
In the second last photocopied image I am a young corpse with taped eyes emulating a forensic pathology textbook.
The intent is to photograph a photograph. To transform the image through replication.
These images have been re-photographed and scanned digitally. The original prints bear the scars of forty years of transportation, handling and multiple accommodation moves.
The concept of replicating photocopy images printed over forty years ago, and reinterpreting those images using current photographic processes feels significant in that time becomes the object in focus.
The central belt in the 80s was bleak like Tarkovsky’s Stalker. Long dead mining communities with the landscape visually dominated by monumental pyramids of shale.
I could see nine bings (shale heaps) as they were known locally from my childhood bedroom window. Most notably Balbakie dead centre looking south, Benhar to the west and Polkemmet to the east. In between these points were a myriad of smaller bings including the 15th with its ice-cold spring which can be seen directly behind Chris Duncan (on the left) in the first image in this sequence.
In the second last photocopied image I am a young corpse with taped eyes emulating a forensic pathology textbook.
The intent is to photograph a photograph. To transform the image through replication.
Images in sequence:
Chris Duncan and Malcolm Brown 3 cans of spray paint and a super 8 camera. Balbakie bing 1982. Image A. Anderson.
Dream machine. Chris Duncan Malcolm Brown Whitburn central belt. Image A. Anderson.
Tracks to the zone 1982. Image unknown T.M.K.
Andrew Anderson with the dream machine he built after the final academy 1982. Image Malcolm Brown.
Detail. Andrew Anderson with the dream machine he built after the final academy 1982. Image Malcolm Brown.
Malcolm brown on top of Balbakie bing view towards Benhar. Image A. Anderson.
Polkemmet bing from Balbakie bing. Image M. Brown 1984.
The zone central belt. Malcolm brown on tracks. Image A. Anderson.
Malcolm Brown the zone Polkemmet bing. Image A. Anderson 1982.
Malcolm brown with Aunt Janet x-ray Whitburn room in flat. Central belt 1980. Image A. Anderson.
Malcolm Brown as a young corpse with taped eyes impersonating forensic pathology scene 1982. Image Chris Duncan.
Chris Duncan Malcolm Brown 1982. Images by both.
All images re cropped, composited, and digitally processed by Malcolm Brown 2023.
Chris Duncan and Malcolm Brown 3 cans of spray paint and a super 8 camera. Balbakie bing 1982. Image A. Anderson.
Dream machine. Chris Duncan Malcolm Brown Whitburn central belt. Image A. Anderson.
Tracks to the zone 1982. Image unknown T.M.K.
Andrew Anderson with the dream machine he built after the final academy 1982. Image Malcolm Brown.
Detail. Andrew Anderson with the dream machine he built after the final academy 1982. Image Malcolm Brown.
Malcolm brown on top of Balbakie bing view towards Benhar. Image A. Anderson.
Polkemmet bing from Balbakie bing. Image M. Brown 1984.
The zone central belt. Malcolm brown on tracks. Image A. Anderson.
Malcolm Brown the zone Polkemmet bing. Image A. Anderson 1982.
Malcolm brown with Aunt Janet x-ray Whitburn room in flat. Central belt 1980. Image A. Anderson.
Malcolm Brown as a young corpse with taped eyes impersonating forensic pathology scene 1982. Image Chris Duncan.
Chris Duncan Malcolm Brown 1982. Images by both.
All images re cropped, composited, and digitally processed by Malcolm Brown 2023.