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The
Guardian
Interview by Andrew Pulver, 2011 |
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The
Independent
Photo
slideshow, 2011 |
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The
Telegraph
Audio
slideshow, 2011 |
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CreativeReview
Exhibition
review, 2011 |
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AnOther
Interview
by Lucia Davies, 2011 |
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Photosense
Exhibition
review by Oran Blackwood, 2011 |
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IDOL
Interview
by Liz Foggit, 2011 |
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Nude
Magazine
Book
review by Suzy Prince, 2011 |
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Who's
Jack >>>
Interview
by Lu Orcheston-Findlay, 2011 |
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At 1 pm, every day, nearly 600 bingo halls across the UK open. Michael
Hess tells Jack about the fascinating characters he found on his
recent photographic project, Bingo and Social Club.
A few days ago we announced that Michael Hess would showcase a selection
of his images from the recently published book, Bingo and Social
Club at The Book Club, Leonard Street. Since then we have caught
up with the photographer to ask him a few questions about the work
and exhibition. Michael is Germany born but moved to the UK in 2003.
Why did you decide to be based in London?
I
lived in Southampton for a few years and, though I loved being near
the sea, and the pace of life down there, I wanted to be in a more
creative environment and absorb what's going on in the arts scene
in London. It's one of the best in the world and there's no better
place to get inspired and stay inspired. Having said that, I'm off
to Berlin soon for a couple of years.
What
made you take an interest in the British pastime of bingo?
Curiosity
really. There was a bingo hall near where I lived in Southampton
and I always used to wonder what went on inside. It was a big old
converted cinema covered in neon signs and peeling paint, and there
were always groups of women standing outside smoking. I loved the
faded glory of the place. Bingo isn't something that goes on much
in Germany beyond weekly community hall bingo sessions so maybe
I saw it with different eyes to most people. One night myself and
my flatmate went and played bingo there and I just fell in love
with the characters and the old world charm.
Who
was the most interesting character you met whilst capturing the
Bingo and Social Club images?
There
were so many, every bingo hall has its characters. Felix in Beacon
Bingo in Cricklewood who wears bicycle lights on his hat and toots
a horn when he wins. Belle in Newcastle who's 100 years old and
still plays every week. But one who'll always stick in my mind is
Eddie. He's a 70-something stalwart of Liverpool's Paradise Island
and is truly the life and soul of the party - always laughing and
joking with everyone and taking ladies up to dance. I have to mention
Jack too, the bingo manager from Newcastle who features throughout
the book. Of all the managers I met, he was the most interesting,
with an enigmatic Humphrey Bogart aura about him.
Were
you made to feel welcome in the social/bingo clubs?
Very.
The main difficulties I had were before I visited, getting permission
to photograph. Once I was in the hall I was made very welcome, and
usually given free food and drinks. I was always introduced before
each session, usually with a joke like, "if you're MI5 or wanted,
you better hide now". But the main thing was that everyone was given
the option not to be photographed. To be honest though, most people
didn't mind, and even enjoyed it. I found older people to be more
relaxed about the presence of a camera than the younger ones. Only
one hall turned me away when I arrived because the manager said,
on second thoughts, the women's husbands might not know they're
there and didn't want to be caught out.
What
did you look for for each of your images?
I
focused mainly on finding the strong characters in each club; the
people you can immediately tell have got something special about
them. As time went on I began to find the little details too, like
lucky charms and the box of glasses that one club kept by the door
in case someone forgot theirs. Overall though I was looking for
nostalgia, perhaps with a 1950s American touch. Most of the clubs
in the book are small, independent clubs that have been running
since the 60s, and little has changed since then. They were full
of character, and characters, that a lot of the Meccas and Galas
just didn't have.
Do you play bingo yourself?
I was looking through my wallet the other day and realised it's
full of bingo membership cards! I played once or twice. Maxine,
the writer, played much much more than me, while I was photographing.
She won £7 in Newcastle - you can see the winning ticket in the
book.
Where
was your favourite or most recommended venue visited?
Jack's will always remain close to my heart, but Paradise Island
in Liverpool had something special. They were incredibly friendly
and had a fantastic sense of humour. In fact, we spent last New
Year's Eve there. We also have some fond memories of Roman Bank
in Skegness. It's not much to look at but the characters really
make the place. Bill, who runs it with his wife June, is 93 and
still works behind the bar - and they help give it a very family
feel. Actually the previous New Year's we spent at one of their
customer's houses. Which is one of the reasons I love photography.
It gives you access to people and places you'd never be able to
reach if you didn't have a camera in your hands.
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The
Other Side Magazine
Interview,
2011 |
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