Artist Statement

The Night series is part of Hooper’s long-term project exploring the cultural and visual complexity of the urban environment.

She is interested in the way that people interact within crowds in all kinds of situations, and the ways those interactions reflect on the character of the society we live in. 

“Even the tiny details in our behaviour,” Hooper writes, “betray the way we react to others and how they respond to us.” It is these details, the angle or tension in the body, the expression on the face, the distance that people put between each other that she tries to capture in her work.

The Night series concentrates on the period of time when darkness falls and the atmosphere of public spaces begins to change. “People own the space differently, occupying it in a more dynamic way”, Hooper observes. “The look and feel is quite different from the day, more exuberant and intense under the glare of artificial light.”

Artist Bio

Hooper became involved in photography when working in theatre stage management, going on to become a production photographer.

During the last ten years she has become increasingly interested in photographing in the public realm, particularly dense areas of London.

She has published two books of photographs: In the Mix and West End. She has also contributed to the book Community: the Elephant and Castle, edited by Patrick Sutherland.  Her photographs have been exhibited in London at The Photographers' Gallery, Printspace and The Cuming Museum.

For further information please see www.katehooper.co.uk