UNTITLED: MARK MCNULTY // Liverpool Philharmonic & Plaza Cinema, Crosby
Most people are acquainted with Mark’s work of beautiful fashion, and
is one of only two independent cinemas in Liverpool.
iconic music photography, however maybe less so with his documented work with organisations such as the Liverpool Philharmonic. Mark is
“The Plaza cinema exhibition is all about it struggling to survive in a
a prolific, versatile photographer jumping from gig to gig, whether it’s
world of multiplexes and downloading films. I did a calendar for them
to document children in inner city Liverpool, or the latest cool band to
at Christmas for them to sell, and this is an extension of the calendar.
want his sharp eye to capture their new style. It seems fitting then, as
I photographed different views of the old projection room, the cinema,
his documented work is less known for him to show some of his recent
the reel film. In fact, on one of the days that I turned up, on a Sunday,
work during Look 11.
I caught the lady who runs the cinema on her knees wearing a miner’s torch sewing the backs of the seats. She then switched with someone
The first, as yet untitled, exhibition he will showcasing is his work
else and then got under the seats with a screwdriver to scrub off the
with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and In Harmony.
chewing gum from under the seat. It’s those moments that I’ve captured
In Harmony is inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema, using the unique
in the exhibition, and I hope people who go see the exhibition then go
power of music making through the symphony orchestra to enthuse
see a film and support this little independent gem.”
and motivate children, their families and their communities. Mark’s exhibition is a documentation of that success, from beginning to end,
I ask him though, won’t his fans be surprised by this series so unlike his
each poignant moment.
more famous photographs, so not pop culture? “The whole series is part of pop culture, it’s not going to war or hard news stories, pop culture
“The project is now two years old and I’ve been documenting it through
runs through most of my work whether it’s fashion, music, parades or
photography. Some of the kids have done so amazing, there’s a group
events. I’m really good at documenting, by taking quick photography
who have left primary school where they started the project and
I can tell a story of the moment, which of course worked really well
have now formed their own little orchestra called the Super Strings.
when you’re working with 80 kids! I would hope that people who were
Results have shown that by going into the school with the instruments,
going to see the exhibitions would then think, ‘next time those kids are
the kid’s attention levels have gone up. This exhibition is about that,
playing, I’m going to get a ticket’, or even go and support your local
about showing those two years, from the concerts to the kids day to
cinema.”
day lessons.” 10-miles down the road, in Crosby, almost a world away from West
Two poignant, beautiful exhibitions from the masterful eye of Mark
Everton, lies his exhibition lit up under the bright lights of cinema.
McNulty, buy a ticket to either venue when you go and see this
The also as yet untitled exhibition at The Plaza Cinema is another
exhibition and support the projects.
extension of that theme of persevering through hardship to end up with something beautiful in the end. This voluntary led community cinema
// Interview by Dina Karim
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