Truths undisclosed reveal unspoken words

Landskrona Foto presents Truths Undisclosed Reveal Unspoken Words, an exhibition dedicated to British photographer Stephen Gill (*1971, Bristol), whose artistic practice has explored the possibilities and limitations of photography for more than three decades. Conceived in collaboration with Galleri Format in Malmö, where the parallel exhibition Words Unspoken Reveal Undisclosed Truths is presented, the two exhibitions form a complementary presentation spanning over thirty years of Gill’s photographic practice. Together, they trace the evolution of his artistic approach, from early documentary observations to increasingly experimental methods in which chance, materiality and collaboration with his subjects play a central role.

The exhibition at Landskrona Foto brings together works from Gill’s extensive years in East London, including Hackney Wick, Hackney Kisses, Billboards and Trolley Portraits, alongside the more recent series The Pillar and Night Procession, created in Skåne, southern Sweden, where the artist now lives and works. By bringing these distinct bodies of work into dialogue, the exhibition highlights the development of Gill’s photographic language and his enduring interest in the relationship between photography, place and the often overlooked details of everyday life.

For nearly two decades, the streets and neighbourhoods of East London formed the foundation of Gill’s photographic exploration. Rather than seeking extraordinary subjects, he turned his attention towards the subtle rhythms of urban life, capturing incidental encounters, overlooked objects and the seemingly insignificant details that contribute to the character of a place. His early work reflects a sensitivity to the relationship between people and their surroundings, while also revealing a growing awareness of the limitations of conventional documentary photography in conveying more elusive emotions and experiences.

This questioning gradually led Gill towards a more experimental photographic language, in which chance, ambiguity and the unpredictable became increasingly important. Following his move to Skåne, his engagement with the natural environment opened new possibilities for collaboration between photographer and subject. In The Pillar and Night Procession, wildlife becomes central to the image-making process, reflecting Gill’s willingness to relinquish control and allow his subjects to shape the resulting photographs. These works mark a significant development in his practice, moving beyond the observation of a subject towards a photographic approach in which the subject itself becomes an active participant.

While the exhibition at Landskrona Foto emphasises the dialogue between Gill’s earlier documentary work and his more recent explorations of the natural world, the parallel exhibition at Galleri Format in Malmö focuses on the experimental and material dimensions of his practice. Rather than functioning as two independent presentations, the exhibitions are conceived as complementary perspectives on the same artistic journey. Together, they offer a broader understanding of how Gill’s photographic practice has evolved over more than thirty years, revealing both the continuity of his fascination with his immediate surroundings and the profound transformations in his methods of image-making.

Across these different bodies of work, Gill’s photographs remain united by a profound curiosity about his immediate surroundings and an openness to the unexpected. Whether documenting the streets of East London or exploring the wildlife of southern Sweden, his work invites viewers to reconsider familiar environments and discover the subtle connections between place, subject and image.