Richard Heeps, Bonanza. © the artist

Exhibition Review - Richard Heeps, Man's Ruin at Norwich Art Centre until June 14 2008.

Norwich Arts Centre is currently hosting Man’s Ruin, a photography exhibition which showcases the rich portraiture and photography of Richard Heeps.

Richard Heeps is famous for using colour and composition to heighten the cinematic quality of his photos of England and America and the exhibition includes some well known photos, as well as works that have never been shown before.

His work exploits the virtues of colour photography to the full, and is hand printed from negative as C-type prints in ‘full frame’, which gives them a distinctive ragged-edge look.

Man’s Ruin charts Heeps’ growing interest in Americana, drawing together a selection of images which tell the story of the spirit and pursuit of the American Dream. The title of the exhibition is inspired by one of the photos exhibited, American artist Sailor Jerry’ s tattoo.

Richard Heeps, Eileen. © the artist

The notion of the American Dream is explored throughout the exhibition, in photos from both England and America. The Mirage is shot in Norfolk but the flashy vintage sports car parked outside a 60s style bar could be straight from the set of Grease.

Both the glamour and the poor beginnings of the American Dream in practice are explored by Heep who juxtaposes a vibrant Coca Cola sign against a faded white and crumpled background.

Walking through the exhibition evokes the way people make connections between American and English culture. The photos allow visitors to travel from Norfolk’s beaches to Arizona’s trailer parks, from Scunthorpe to Hollywood and back to Bedfordshire’s Santapod drag strip.

Seedy starlet photos 'Tease o’rama, Hollywood' and 'Miss Immodesty Blaze, London' stand side by side, conveying the similarities between the two societies. Images also cross the boundaries of nations, for example Hilary Clinton visits the American Cemetery in Cambridge.

Richard Heeps, Girl Pinstriping. © the artist

Heeps also displays photos covering a wide range of subject matter and despite the stark variety, the exhibition is ordered. In the entrance visitors are hit by the theme of the American Dream, moving on to England’s Industrial cities which is in turn contrasted against Hollywood glamour.

In the café/bar soulful jazz music plays as an appropriate background to photos that are less glamorous and all about everyday life, but still seem to have the cinematic quality of the American films of Sinatra’s day.

Photo settings range from post WW2 pre-fabs to Palm Springs, California, where a spotlight shines on a chair in an empty audition room.

Richard Heeps, Lynn, Lisa, Charlotte and Theresa. © Richard Heeps

Richard Heeps explained: “I have pursued a wide range of projects exploiting the virtues of colour photography. There is often a narrative behind my images, where I try to reflect my love and empathy for my subject matter.”

Katie Brinkley is the 24 Hour Museum/Norwich HEART Student Writer in Norwich. Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) is the groundbreaking initiative to regenerate, manage and promote one of the most remarkable heritage resources in the UK and in Europe.