The photographer jon tonks traveled to 4 remote and far flung islands to record how people live it these forgotten places. The touring photography exhibition of jon tonks empire was commissioned and coproduced by mac birmingham, the library of birmingham, ffotogallery, cardiff and impressions gallery, bradford. Jon tonks, empire following the successful exhibitions at mac and the library of birmingham earlier this year fottogallery, cardiff are the current host of the touring version of jon tonks acclaimed book of the same, now in its second edition. The empire theme is apparent in the layout of the book. Tonks empire project is fully realised in a sold out book that was released last year. Maps, facts and figures are laid out with a graphic nod to an imperial tradition, but the delight of the book lies in the pictures and the stories they tell. Helena relics of the once formidable british empire. Empire is a fascinating journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands the british overseas territories of ascension island, tristan da cunha, the falkland islands and st. In 2014, tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire, a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands relics of the once formidable british empire. The second edition of empire, printed in june 2014, is now available through dewi lewis.
Empire by jon tonks hardback, 2014 for sale online ebay. Photographing the remote vestiges of empire jon tonks. A lollipopseller awarded a badge of honor for maintaining calm under duress. On show at format jon tonks cargo british journal of. He travelled to a series of remote british overseas territories in the south atlantic ocean, which included st helena, ascension island, tristan da cunha and the falkland islands, documenting the people and places from these last. These lifeboats were washed up on tristan da cunha from an oil rig that sank after breaking loose from a vessel towing it across the atlantic. An interview with photographer jon tonks giving insight into his photographic project empire. This was ultimately published as empire by dewi lewis publishing in late 20, with a second edition following in 2014. Revealing the strong links to britain helps to reduce the obvious distance in geography, enabling people to engage and find similarities.
He has also written another series which includes at the moment two books only called will borders exhomicide detective in cincinnati, ohio. Jon tonks spent up to a month at a time in each territory, travelling 60,000 miles around the atlantic via military outposts, lowlit airstrips and a long voyage aboard the. Empire is a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on ascension island, tristan da cunha, the falkland islands and st. This body of work has been ongoing since 2007, voyaging to a handful of remote british overseas territories in the south atlantic ocean to photograph the people and the pockets of history that remain on these vestiges of empire. Oct 28, 2016 in 2014, tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire, a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands relics of the once formidable british empire. Jan 31, 2014 each week, the guardian weekend magazines editorial team choose a picture, or set of pictures, that particularly tickle their fancy. He has been shortlisted for the taylor wessing national portrait prize three times, twice for the terry oneill award and, in 2014, tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote british overseas territories. Empire multi awardwinning photographer and photojournalist jon tonks series empire is an exploration into life on four overseas territories of the united kingdom. Tonks hopes to use the exhibition as a testing ground for the series before developing it into a wider body of work. Images from the faded and forgotten last outposts of the. He travelled to a series of remote british overseas territories in the south atlantic ocean, which included st helena, ascension island, tristan da cunha and the falkland islands. Jon tonks life and work, current exhibitions, publications, agencies and galleries. Multi awardwinning photographer and photojournalist jon tonks first solo show empire is an exploration into life on four overseas territories of the united kingdom.
Jon tonks went through a lot to capture life and the remains of an empire on four. His travels took him to tristan da cunha, ascension island. The stories of the places and particularly the inhabitants of these islands were fascinating. The print run was limited to copies, published by dewi lewis publishing. A personal history of british dominion photographs byjon. Tonks has photographed the people, the landscapes and the traces of the past embedded within each territory. Jon tonks is a british photographer based in bath in the south west of england. Buy empire book online at low prices in india empire. Apr 01, 2020 jon tonks on his recent cruise ship experience, his book project empire, enjoying the disconnect, using limitations to be more creative and justified naps. Four british outposts explored in empire, jon tonks first. British overseas territories ascension island tristan da cunha falkland islands and st. Mar 22, 2017 tonks hopes to use the exhibition as a testing ground for the series before developing it into a wider body of work. The falklands are the islands in the middle of the atlantic west side over which a war was fought in 1981.
Oct 26, 2019 he has been shortlisted for the taylor wessing national portrait prize three times, twice for the terry oneill award and, in 2014, tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote british overseas territories. An investment for your future on thursday evening, jon tonks is talking im introducing him at another bristol photobooks event about his new book, empire. All about jon tonks, photographer spotlight on all about photo. Helena relics of the once formidable british empire, all intertwined through their shared history. Which island was used by nasa in the 1970s to simulate the surface of the moon. Jon tonks is a british photographer based in bath, england. Aug 10, 2015 for six years, bathbased photographer jon tonks worked on a longterm personal project, culminating in the book empire, published in december 20 by dewi lewis.
Jon tonks statement hyman collection british photography. The touring photographic exhibition of jon tonks empire has been coproduced by mac birmingham, the library of birmingham, ffotogallery, grain photography hub and impressions gallery. The book contains four chapters looking at each island visited. Nov 10, 2014 four british outposts explored in empire, jon tonks first solo photographic exhibition mon 10 november 2014 the monarchy, darwin, napoleon bonaparte, slavery the backdrop to an intriguing new solo exhibition, by sutton coldfield born, multiaward winning, photographer and photojournalist jon tonks. The book was hailed by martin parr as one of his best books the year, and the work has been exhibited. Opening hours are limited, and supplies are reliant upon ships arriving from cape town. His work has been published and exhibited worldwide, and focuses on telling stories about peoples lives shaped by history and geography. Through short texts that accompany the pictures, the book combines history and anecdote, telling the story of these remote and remarkable islands, with a curiosity about the lives of these distant lands that remain very firmly british. A journey to the remoter edges of the british empire by tonks, jon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Each week, the guardian weekend magazines editorial team choose a picture, or set of pictures, that particularly tickle their fancy. This collection of photographs from the last remaining outposts of the british empire st. Spanning over six years, jon tonks spent up to a month at a time in each.
Since completing the project in 20, he published the book empire through dewi lewis. Tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote british oveaseas territories. Helena, british overseas territories, intertwined through history as relics of the once formidable british empire. Tonks was born in sutton coldfield in the west midlands in 1981, and took his first job as staff photographer on a local midlands newspaper in 2005.
A tortoise named jonathan who is rumored to have met every governor of st. What does life look like on a remote island with only a few inhabitants. Jon tonks professional photographer jon tonks linkedin. B ritish documentary photographer jon tonks spent five years and travelled around 50,000 miles to make empire, a book about four small farflung territories that remain under british rule as the great imperialist project fades further into history.
The first, titled cargo, covers the story of john frum and cevin, the bostonian filmmaker who was held in such high esteem by the john frum tribe. This selection of images are all part of a longterm project spanning six years, from 2007 20, and tells the story of life on four remote british overseas territories in the south atlantic ocean. Please see pics, any questions please get in touch. Which island is home to the only law enforcement official for 1,750 miles in any direction. Empire is a trawl across some of the smaller british islands of the south atlantic st helena, ascension island, tristan da cunha and the falkland islands. Empire is a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands, british overseas territories, intertwined through history as relics of the once formidable british empire.
Sep 14, 2015 o ver a period of six years, photographer jon tonks travelled in pursuit of the last vestiges of british empire. Jon tonks introduced by christopher lord empire is a fascinating journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands the british overseas territories of ascension island, tristan da cunha, the falkland islands and st. Jon tonks is a british photographer based in the uk. Following empire s launch exhibition at mac, the exhibition will travel to ffotogallery in cardiff and impressions gallery in. Tonks was also presented with the vic odden award 2014 by the royal photographic society for his first book empire, it was released in december 20 and nominated by martin parr as one of his best books the year. Jon tonks biography hyman collection british photography. Jon tonks adds, through empire, i wanted people to learn a little bit more about the places, the people and the history that shapes each island.
The book was hailed by martin parr as one of his best books the year. Empire by jon tonks, 9781907893490, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jon tonks empire is a fascinating journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands the british overseas territories of ascension island, tristan da cunha, the falkland islands and st helena relics of the once formidable british empire, all intertwined through their shared history. Jon tonks empire, dewi lewis, 20, stockport photobooks. Empire is a fascinating journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four. Photos of the anachronistic british island territories in. Jon tonks, empire following the successful exhibitions at mac and the library of birmingham earlier this year fottogallery, cardiff are the current host of the touring version of jon tonk s acclaimed book of the same, now in its second edition. In 2014, tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire, the book was hailed by martin parr as one of his best books the year. Rrb photobooks 39a islington road bristol, bs3 1qb. A prison that from time to time serves as a video shop. Photographer jon tonks investigates four farflung outposts where the british empire lives on at least in spirit, writes sean ohagan. Empire is a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands, british overseas territories, intertwined through history as relics of the once. Helena, ascension island, tristan da cunha and the falkland islands. Photographs from the book are being exhibited at the arena gallery, mac birmingham from october 18th 2014 until january 4th 2015.
This book is sold out by the publisher 188 pages hardcover, no dj. A personal history of british dominion photographs. Tristan da cunha, ascension island, st helena and the falkland islands. You can view broader edits from each island, including work that didnt make the edit for the book in the works section of the website. Empire is a glimpse of what was once the worlds greatest empire, now reduced to a hand full of lonely islands. Jon tonks is a british photographer living in bath, uk.
On thursday evening, jon tonks is talking im introducing him at another bristol photobooks event about his new book, empire. Jon tonks empire dewi lewis publishing, 20 view larger. Helena, and the slightly more famous falkland islands, yet much of what tonks portrays seems like it could have been photographed decades past, which is part of what is so appealing about this project. He works globally on documentary projects and for a variety of editorial and commercial clients. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. From the book empire jon tonks edinburgh of the seven seas known locally as the settlement.
Jon tonks spent up to a month at a time in each territory, travelling 60,000 miles around the atlantic via military outposts, lowlit airstrips and a. Helena, the falklands, tristan da cunha and ascension are amazingly evocative in their simplicity. While you might not know the answers to any of these questions, british documentary photographer jon tonks found out about these things and so much more in the process of making his book, empire. His work focuses on telling stories about peoples lives shaped by history and geography. Empire, published by dewi lewis, is a presentday portrait of the lives and people of ascension island, tristan da cunha, st. Here is a short video that was put together in line with the roaming exhibition of empire prime objective came to film me discussing the development of. The project has taken a total of 24 flights and 32 days at sea. The result is collected in his first monograph, called empire, a thick book with eighty colour images and some informative texts about the. For six years, bathbased photographer jon tonks worked on a longterm personal project, culminating in the book empire, published in december 20 by dewi lewis. Jon tonks explores the far reaches of the british empire.
He has been shortlisted for the taylor wessing national portrait prize three times, twice for the terry oneill award, and in 2014, tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote british oveaseas territories. Empire takes a fascinating journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands the british overseas territories of ascension island, tristan da cunha, the falkland islands and st. Jon tonks empire artist statement empire is a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote islands the british overseas territories of ascension island, tristan da cunha, the falkland islands and st. This was ultimately published as empire by dewi lewis publishing in. The book they are working on is divided into four sections. He focused on a group of tiny, remote islands in the south atlantic, as well as the. Artist study jon tonks jon tonks is a british photographer based in bath, england. Tonks spent up to a month at a time in each territory, traveling 60,000 miles around the atlantic via. This is a quarterbound hardback book with 188 pages, 80 colour images, plus additional illustrations and text. Since completing the project in 20, he published the book empire through dewi lewis publishing. Jon talton is an american crime mystery author best known for his david mapstone an excop in phoenix, arizona series. Tonks has photographed the people, the landscapes and the traces of the past embedded within. Tonks was presented with the vic odden award by the royal photographic society for his first book empire a journey across the south atlantic exploring life on four remote british overseas territories.
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