tish…

I went along to the Watershed yesterday to see a film about Tyneside photographer Tish Murtha (1956-2013), who chronicled working-class lives in the north east in the 70s and 80s (and marginalised communities).
WOW!
I absolutely loved this film… and Murtha’s wonderful black+white photographs.
I’m embarrassed to say that I hadn’t previously heard anything about her before reading the Watershed’s film ‘blurb’ (I know!). Clearly, lots of other people had… because the Watershed was a total sell-out – even on a Wednesday afternoon (ok, it was shown in the small Cinema 2, but nonetheless).
The film is beautifully presented by Murtha’s grownup daughter Ella (who is an eerie likeness of her late mother)… talking to Tish’s relatives, friends and teachers at the School of Documentary Photography in Newport.
Tish came from a working-class background and lived a tough life; much of her photography was shot in different areas of poverty and deprivation. She was just one of the people whose lives she recorded and, as such, wasn’t seen as an intruder when it came to her taking her photographs. She was never understood by the arts establishment and, sadly, Tish was never able to make a living from her photography.
In her final years, she was reduced to poverty by Austerity Britain after the 2008 crash, terrified of being sanctioned by the Department of Work and Pensions. She died of a sudden brain aneurysm at the ridiculously young age of 52.
I found it a very moving film… a reminder of the poverty and deprivation of areas like Tyneside in 1970s/80s (and beyond) and the political attitudes of the time (and beyond!)… but also how such a talented photographer was never recognised for what she was – something of a genius.
I would urge you to see this film if you can. You won’t regret it.
PS: There is a now a room at Tate Britain devoted to Tish Murtha’s work.