Jem Southam – The Pond at Upton Pyne

Jem Southam's series shows the cyclical change of a pond in Upton Pyne, Devon, England. The pond is not of natural origin, but dates back to a disused manganese mine from the 18th century, an area that has long been neglected.

For the narrative series, which was created between 1996 and 2002, Southam designed three parts: The first shows the pond at a time when a man was working to transform the small area into a romantic paradise for his family. After the man left the village, the area became overgrown. The second part is dedicated to the work of the next resident. He was guided by a different vision and transformed it into a place of recreation and leisure. The third part of the study deals with the surrounding landscape.

Jem Southam's series of photographs focuses on a "microcosm". It is both an allegorical story about how our dreams influence our actions and a reflection on aspects of the historical and socio-cultural development of the post-industrial Western world.