Paul Reas was born in West Yorkshire in 1955.
He is a senior lecturer in Documentary Photography at the University of Wales Newport.
Reas is thought to be one of the most significant photographers who emerged in the 1980s in new British colour documentary photography. His work shows parallels to the one of Martin Parr- both are known for their use of colour and their ironical, humorous way of criticizing British (consumer) culture. Well known projects include “Working Men“, 1982, “I Can Help“, 1985-1988, “Flogging a Dead Horse“, 1989-1993 and “From a Distance“, 2012.
Reas works with a medium-format camera and a large flashgun because he wants to be perceived as a photographer (Reas, 2014).
From 1993 to 2003 he made his project “Portrait of an Invisible Man“. He made images responding to the relationship with his father. For all his childhood his father has been what he calls an “absent presence“ (Reas, 1993). He was always distant, secretive and revealed nothing about himself (Reas, 1993). The photographs can be seen as an attempt to understand their relationship, as well as an attempt to heal his “wounds“.
As Reas tries to uncover his father’s story he challenges typical family values such as not being silent and not conforming to his father’s authority (William, 1994).
Additionally to his art photography Reas has also created advertisments for companies such as Nissan and Volkswagen.
Reas work has been exhibitioned in over 32 museums and galleries in Europe such as Tate Britain, Saatchi Gallery London and Photographer’s Gallery London. He has also received several awards and published three books.
Sources:
Family-photographers photographing their families
Williams, V., 1994. Who’s looking at the family? London: Barbican Art Gallery.
James Hyman Gallery, n.d. Paul Reas[online][viewed 19 February 2015]. Available from: http://www.jameshymangallery.com/artists/17200/biography/paul-reas
Staff Directory[online][viewed 19 February 2015]. Available from: http://staff.southwales.ac.uk/users/6813-preas01
Andreasson, 2014. Paul Rea’S best shot: a dad buying army wallpaper for his son[online][viewed 19 February 2015]. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/mar/12/paul-reas-best-shot-dad-army-wallpaper
Representation 