Vulture

Unrestricted movement through the city is a basic human right. Traditionally, women have been prevented from this by the presence of ‘invisible barriers’, both physical and psychological. Cities are designed by men with little consideration for women and the unique difficulties and safety concerns that they may encounter as they negotiate urban space. Vulture is a photographic investigation of women making their way through urban space, exploring the many restrictions to their progress . Originally planned as a colour street photography series, it evolved into the current monochrome, dark collection that predominantly depicts locations perceived as unsafe, relegating human presence to a minimum. The series is a response to the question as to whether gendered space can be reclaimed photographically. The title captures the brooding, shadowy menace of a predator inherent in certain locations. ‘In the country the darkness of night is friendly and familiar, but in a city, with its blaze of lights, it is unnatural, hostile, and menacing. It is like a monstrous vulture that hovers, biding its time.’ (W Somerset Maugham, 1927)