I Witness

Photographs by Duncan  Shepherd

 "This project was originally conceived to coincide with the close of the 20th century, a century characterised by ideological struggle and global conflict. In particular, the events of 1939-45 can be seen as major factors in the shaping the modern world.

 "For an increasing percentage of the population ‘the war’ seems more myth than reality. Our understanding is more often through representations in film, television dramas and documentaries. Without having lived the experience, or even remotely similar circumstances, it is impossible to fully imagine.

 "The people featured in this exhibition have all been photographed since January 1999.  They are perhaps unremarkable in that they are simply my neighbours, relatives, and friends, or perhaps relatives of friends and colleagues. What connects these people is a common experience. For them the war is not myth but memory, a kind of collective consciousness, an essential part of their lives.

 "Accompanying each image is a selected, abridged transcript taken directly from a recorded conversation between myself and the subject. These texts give first hand accounts of their individual wartime experiences.

 
"It is a sad but inevitable fact that since the original conception and first presentation of this work a number of these remarkable people are no longer with us. It is in my view perhaps even more important to value their contributions, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with them on this project."

Duncan Shepherd - 2005