Unearthed: Photography's Roots

Trace the history of photography from the 1840s to present day, as seen through depictions of nature.

In Summer 2020, we present our first major photography exhibition, tracing the rich history of the medium told through depictions of nature, bringing together over 100 works by 25 leading international photographers. Unearthed will reveal the fascinating technical processes and narratives behind these images, showcasing innovations in photography by key figures including William Henry Fox Talbot and Imogen Cunningham as well as several overlooked photographers including Japanese artist, Kazumasa Ogawa and the English gardener, Charles Jones. Jones’ striking modernist photographs of plants remained unknown until 20 years after his death, when they were discovered in a trunk at Bermondsey Market in 1981.

The exhibition opens with some of the first known Victorian images by Talbot, with his experiments with paper negatives, and will also feature works by the first female photographer Anna Atkins and one of the earliest innovators of colour photography - Edward Steichen. Focussing on botany and science throughout, themes range from typology and form to experiments with colour and modernism. The show culminates with more recent advancements in photography, from the glamour and eroticism of artists Robert Mapplethorpe and Nobuyoshi Araki, to experimentations with still life compositions.

The exhibition will also feature a contemporary intervention from renowned video artist Ori Gersht, On Reflection will be displayed publicly in the UK for the first time in our Mausoleum.