LONDON.- The Hayward Gallery presents Samuel Laurence Cunnane: Blue Road. This marks the Irish artist’s London debut and the fifth exhibition in the RC Foundation Project Space Exhibition Series, which showcases the next generation of emerging international artists.

The exhibition takes place in the HENI Project Space in the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery – a space that offers the opportunity for audiences to discover exhibitions from new artistic voices for free.

Blue Road surveys Kerry-based analogue photographer Samuel Laurence Cunnane's work to date, featuring traditional photographic prints developed by hand in his darkroom studio. Cunnane travels by van across Europe and beyond for long periods, capturing fleeting scenes that result in luminous images that reveal remarkable beauty hidden in plain sight. The titular work, for example, depicts a stretch of newly tarmacked road that appears as a deep blue river gleaming in the early evening light. Responding to the digital nature of contemporary image-making, Cunnane encourages viewers to look more intently in moments of stillness, emphasising light and atmosphere to reveal the world as the naked eye truly sees it.

Yung Ma, Senior Curator of the Hayward Gallery, says: “We’re thrilled to present Samuel's London debut as part of our partnership with the RC Foundation. The show continues our ongoing commitment to showcase international emerging voices and introducing them to new audiences. The subtle beauty and emotions in Samuel's work encourages a moment of reflection in the everyday, and we look forward to seeing what new meanings our audiences will uncover.”

Samuel Laurence Cunnane says: “This show is a distillation of many years of work, it serves as an overview but also a through line. From years of quite literally wandering and recording, this is a constellation of those impressions. My work is an exploration of the space between a so-called reality and our experience of it.”

The HENI Project Space is a vital part of the Southbank Centre’s vast array of free programming, introducing new international voices and providing accessible cultural experiences for all to enjoy. Since its establishment in 2007, the space has platformed artists including Hicham Berrada, Thabiso Sekgala, Val Lee, Huang Po-Chih, Kate Cooper, Heecheon Kim, Amol K Patil.

Samuel Lawrence Cunnane: Blue Road is curated by Assistant Curator Thomas Sutton. Additional support provided by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan (R.O.C.).

On Saturday 28 March, Samuel Laurence Cunnane will be in conversation with Assistant Curator Thomas Sutton to delve into his photography and the themes that run through Blue Road. More information can be found HERE.

Samuel Laurence Cunanne: Blue Road is presented during the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year alongside Chiharu Shiota: Threads of Life and Yin Xiuzhen: Heart to Heart.