liverpool seen
Rizwan Mirza

exhibition venue: The Kemble Gallery

Poetry seems to be going through a period of renewed interest, in the UK and Ireland. The appearance of high-profile national and international awards and events, coupled with the way it has managed to adapt into mainstream popular culture, has meant it now attracts a growing and varied audience. The connection between poetry and songwriting, for example, is deeper than we realise -indeed, some of the finest songwriting is really poetry, whether by Motown artists, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Patti Smith or Elvis Costello.

Some of British poetry's popularity must be credited to the Mersey scene and the poets associated with it, such as Roger McGough, Adrian Henri and Brian Patten - and the contemporary Liverpool 'scene' continues to flourish and produce work which is both rich and diverse. This set of black and white lith-toned portraits and associated poems is meant to give a flavour of the quality and depth of material to be found in the city.

Biography / curriculum vitae:
E d u c a t i o n : 1990-93 BA Hon. in Photographic Studies, University of Derby.

Work Experience: Nov 96 - Present Freelance Photographer/ Picture Researcher The BBC, Brilliant Books, John Brown Publishing, Focus magazine, Forward Publishing, National Magazine Co., New Scientist, The Telegraph and The Times; Mar 95- Nov 96 Picture Researcher, Network Photographers, London; Mar 94 - Feb 95 Picture Researcher Telegraph/ Colorific Picture Library, London Exhibitions: Oct 01 Portraits of Liverpool Poets, Folly gallery, Lancaster

(solo); Oct 01 Mezzanine gallery, Curzon Soho, London (solo); Oct 00 Waterstones gallery/ bookshop, Nottingham (solo); Apr 01 South Asian showcase, Unity Theatre, Liverpool (group); Jan 96 ‘Gilchrist Fisher’ show, Cadogan gallery, London (group); Sep 93 ‘Picture Freedom’, Photographers gallery, London (group)

Awards/Nominations: Mar 97 ‘Joop Swart World Press Photo Masterclass’ (shortlist); Jan 96 ‘Gilchrist Fisher Memorial’ (shortlist); Jul 95 Prince’s Trust’ Young Achiever’s in Europe’; May 93 Alderman Frederick Smith Travel Bequest; Dec 92 Agfa Student Bursary.