Fergus Cunningham is a New Zealand photographer, largely specialising in documentary, travel, architectural and experimental photography. Cunningham’s introduction to photography began in the mid 1990′s when a friend gave him a beaten up 1960′s era Minolta rangefinder they found at a garage sale. Soon after he departed overseas and spent the next decade working and travelling in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Cunningham has had work in numerous publications including NZ News UK, Backpacker magazine, Walking World Ireland, TNT magazine etc…  He has recently been featured in an article on Web Urbanist. Cunningham’s work is curated by Daniel Clifford of SmallWorks Gallery in Brisbane, Australia.  For the purchase of limited edition prints please contact Daniel here, or you can contact Cunningham directly here.

                               www.smallworksgallery.com.au

Fergus Cunningham is a New Zealand based artist working within the discipline of photography. Cunningham decribes his practice as “Urban Archaeology”. Exploring the ruins of our urban and rural landscapes, images of the desolate, abandoned and neglected are captured. We are drawn into the beauty of the image itself, seduced by the charm of the considered, composed and constructed image.

Cunningham questions the validity of the aesthetic of beauty itself, encouraging us to look past the remains that we are faced with and find a certain thrill in ruins. However he also challenges us to question why these specific buildings and ruins are left to rot. What rationale or ideology lies behind the reasoning to let such a place fall into ruin. The seductive charm of late capitalism itself is bought in for some thorough interrogation. 

Daniel Clifford – SmallWorks Gallery