Dominic Hawgood: Under the Influence, TJ Boulting

Dominic Hawgood is the man of the moment in the photography world right now. Under The Influence marks the first solo show for the winner of the 2014 British Journal of Photography’s International Series Award.
Dominic Hawgood photography 
Hawgood’s recent work examines the ways in which modern belief systems are ‘sold’, focusing particularly on religious rituals and the theatrical practice of deliverance. Inspired by the evangelical Christianity popular among African communities in London, Under the Influence offers a highly stylised take on exorcism ceremonies. Through a combination of photography, lighting design and CGI, the series scrutinises the performances, gestures and objects that relate to these mysterious events.
Tj Boulting, London, exhibition 2015
The exhibition at TJ Boulting gallery blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction, and questions what we see and understand through images and iconography. The images are, at first glance, sterile documentations of objects and actions, like anointing water or a microphone held by a preacher. However, as 3D entities, set against backdrops of saccharine colours (strangely reminiscent of Apple adverts), they tap into the ad-man’s world of consumer culture and simulated reality. The surreal designs and bright lighting are like a constructed set where nothing has been left to chance. A far cry from the original church setting which first inspired them!
Hawgood points out that such images are designed to lure us in. We are forced to wonder – should religion harness the tactics of consumer advertising? “I want people to think about what is being presented to them,” Hawgood explains, “and to ask questions: Where were these images taken? Is this a studio setup or a documentation of real life? I want people to make up their own minds.”
Drawing on the fascinating interplay between authenticity and desire, this exhibition firmly stamps Hawgood’s mark onto the London art scene.