Euan Duff
Encyclopedia
Euan Duff is a photographer and photo-journalist, born in 1939 to the political activist, Peggy Duff
and her husband Bill, a journalist
who died in the latter stages of the Second World War.
He freelanced as a photo-journalist in London
during the 1960s and then went into teaching, finally setting up and running the first degree course in photography offered by Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham
, before taking early retirement in 1990.
He published 'How We Are', Allen Lane
, 1971; and 'Workless', with Dennis Marsden, Penguin
, 1975; and exhibited at the ICA
in London in 1971. His work was included in two major retrospectives of British photography - 'Through the Looking Glass' at the Barbican
in 1990; and 'How We Are - Photographing Britain' (whose title derived from his book) at Tate Britain
in 2007. His work was featured, along with that of Peter Mitchell, in an exhibition and conference about British photography in the 1970s held at the University of Sussex
in 2005, after he had donated much of his early work to their archives. Other work was also donated to the V&A collection, the National Portrait Gallery (including a print of his mother ) and Lincolnshire County Council, but he is not represented in either the Arts Council
or National Media Museum's collections of photography.
The critic John Berger
wrote in his introduction to 'How We Are' - "I can think of no comparable contemporary English work of literature or visual art which so gently, so persistently and so finally brings one face-to-face with the wretchedness of the kind of society in which we live: a society in which every personal meaning achieved by an individual is pitted against corporate meaninglessness; in which every personal need, expressed in terms of what is socially available, is in agonizing conflict with the origins of that need in the soul."
Peggy Duff
Peggy Duff was a British political activist who was principally known for her contribution to the peace movement as the organiser of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.-Background:...
and her husband Bill, a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who died in the latter stages of the Second World War.
He freelanced as a photo-journalist in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the 1960s and then went into teaching, finally setting up and running the first degree course in photography offered by Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, before taking early retirement in 1990.
He published 'How We Are', Allen Lane
Allen Lane
Sir Allen Lane was a British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing high quality paperback fiction and non-fiction to the mass market.-Early life and family:...
, 1971; and 'Workless', with Dennis Marsden, Penguin
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, 1975; and exhibited at the ICA
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
in London in 1971. His work was included in two major retrospectives of British photography - 'Through the Looking Glass' at the Barbican
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
in 1990; and 'How We Are - Photographing Britain' (whose title derived from his book) at Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
in 2007. His work was featured, along with that of Peter Mitchell, in an exhibition and conference about British photography in the 1970s held at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
in 2005, after he had donated much of his early work to their archives. Other work was also donated to the V&A collection, the National Portrait Gallery (including a print of his mother ) and Lincolnshire County Council, but he is not represented in either the Arts Council
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. The Arts Council of Great Britain was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England , the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales...
or National Media Museum's collections of photography.
The critic John Berger
John Berger
John Peter Berger is an English art critic, novelist, painter and author. His novel G. won the 1972 Booker Prize, and his essay on art criticism Ways of Seeing, written as an accompaniment to a BBC series, is often used as a university text.-Education:Born in Hackney, London, England, Berger was...
wrote in his introduction to 'How We Are' - "I can think of no comparable contemporary English work of literature or visual art which so gently, so persistently and so finally brings one face-to-face with the wretchedness of the kind of society in which we live: a society in which every personal meaning achieved by an individual is pitted against corporate meaninglessness; in which every personal need, expressed in terms of what is socially available, is in agonizing conflict with the origins of that need in the soul."