Dazed Magazine
Dazed 100: Art & Photography
Evan Purdy is a photographer from Manchester who is now based in London, where he recently graduated from the Fine Art degree course at Camberwell College of Art. Purdy first relocated from the North to London in 2020, and he quickly immersed himself in the city’s queer community, creating photographs that capture the quivering potential of youth and the binds of community. In this way, his work could be said to have parallels with the photographs of Nan Goldin.
Read More...
2024
Creative Review
In Conversation with Megan Williams
Purdy’s work is aesthetically fluid but the outcome is always emotionally driven. “My photography focuses on the psychology of living within contemporary British society,” he says. “I try to explore the consciousness that surrounds my life. Just like dreams, photography has the ability to reflect what goes on beneath the surface.” Through his lens, Purdy hopes to not only document how people understand themselves, but also gain a better understanding of them himself. “I would argue that empathy is the greatest skill for any photographer to master. Our images capture our way of seeing the world, to expand this sense of perception through understanding others, creating a great photograph. The language of photography has the potential to guide people into questioning their shared reality and their own role within that.”
Read More...
2024
AnOther Magazine
In Conversation with George Pistachio
“Photography is my way of talking to people my age who may be experiencing the same feelings I’m experiencing. I guess it’s a way of making myself feel less alien. I find the world really weird, in enjoyable ways, but also in really scary ways. One way that I can deal with that is by using photography to show people and make them think about how weird the world is, look at how strange the structures are, and look at what that does to the individual. Fear is what keeps these dominant structures alive. It’s a dangerous place we’re making. But on the flip side, I also want to show to people who are in my generation that by looking at these things – by really looking – you can show that when we try to work locally, when we look to our friends, our immediate groups and when we try and look at ourselves, we can make small positive changes.“
Read More...
2024
Dazed Magazine
In Conversation with Tom Waite
“We flock to these cities in search of something. I think most people are unsure what it is that they’re looking for, but for me, I think ultimately the answer is love. There is no other reason why people would choose to live in such inhospitable and unwelcoming places that are not designed for living but instead designed for profit. Living in a city, especially one like London, means you cannot escape the truth of what our government has created. But despite that really difficult reality, there will always be hope when people are intimate with one other. People in cities are bonded by these shared experiences – that’s why people in major cities are some of the most open and tolerant people you can find. The isolation we feel comes not from being physically alone, but being innately aware that we are missing deep connections to other human beings, true community.”
Read More...
2023
The Face Magazine
In Conversion with TJ Sidhu
As the UK seemingly spirals down the shitter, photographer Evan Purdy noticed that All the Children Are Insane. That’s not just a wild generalisation of angsty kidz, but the title of the pair’s new photo series, featuring 18 well-dressed youngsters who, as Purdy points out, are pretty pissed off with how things are being run. It all started when Purdy, who street-cast London strangers as well as friends for the series, noticed how young people’s anger, rage and frustrations were being presented through their style: coloured hair, dramatic make-up, shaved heads, and piercings. “I’m very interested in how young people are using fashion to express their struggle or how confusing this world is,” says Purdy, a Mancunian who’s currently living in East London.
Read More...