Matt Veal’s image for our latest exhibition in May was of the Chaps Choir where he chose to embark on an exploration of men today, the collective identity of the group and the individual through singing.
He writes:
“This project looks to explore the relationships between men in a non-competitive environment. Obviously performance is core to the choir’s activities. The focus of this study however is the broader sense of togetherness. I show how men react to each other, the camaraderie, relationships and how they feel about being in Chaps Choir. Above all else I wanted to capture and share the love of singing within the group and how singing together brings men a sense of belonging.
What I found went far deeper than just friendships and togetherness, but a true sense of community. I became an observer of a group of varied and wonderfully diverse men who have singing in common. I realised that I was not only documenting a choir but studying the therapeutic effects of the group on the individual and the kinship that evolved from being united.”
We absolutely love Matt’s work and were honoured to have it at the exhibition as well as the choir themselves singing for us! It’s a display of diversity and community which is so needed when we feel alone or isolated by our thoughts.
Find more info on the Chaps Choir via their website: http://www.chapschoir.com/
***SOLD as part of our charity auction in May at the Getty Images Gallery in London. We raised over £17.000 for the charity CALM who are helping to prevent male suicide in the UK and helping to redefine what it is to ‘be a man’.
