Visual Arts

American photojournalist Chris Osburn was born in Chickamauga, Georgia and although he's now based in London, his homeland is never far from his thoughts, prompting a return visit in the early part of 2009 to see how the Deep South was shaping up in the new era ushered in by the election of the first black President of the USA.

As well as Chickamauga and the nearby environs, Osburn ventured into neighbouring South-eastern Tennessee and north-western Alabama to shoot photographs depicting the area's transition from agrarian society to the commodity/service industry culture of today.

The context of of the current economic conditions and the sea change in American politics as the Bush administration gave way to the incoming Barack Obama means that for many, real change is a real possibility and Chris wanted to capture that in his photography. The result is this exhibition of twenty four photographs.

Osburn has stated that he has a love/hate relationship with the corner of the world where he was brought up and hopes that this exhibition will provide him with an excellent channel for examining his relationship with his home culture and heritage.

Chris Osburn's 'Red State: Excess & Despair in the American South' is open to the public at Leeds College of Art & Design, Blenheim Walk until Friday 11 September 2009.