A new exhibition surrounding the work of 'The Photie Man' is set to open to the public in Liverpool this weekend.
Offering a fascinating snapshot of Liverpool life during the 80s and 90s, photographer Tom Wood spent 25 years capturing characters on the streets of Merseyside. Born in Ireland, Tom, now in his 70s, moved to Merseyside in 1978 and lived here until 2003.
But it was during this time he earned the nickname "Photie Man," as he spent his time photographing people and places across the region. Today, the ECHO got a first look at the new exhibition - Photie Man: 50 Years of Tom Wood - at the Walker Art Gallery.
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Celebrating over half a century of work from the acclaimed artist, the exhibition captures everything from matchdays at Anfield and Goodison Park, trips to Greatie Market, bus journeys through the streets of Liverpool and more. The exhibition will move from vintage photographs that Tom Wood started collecting while still at school, alongside never-before-seen photographs from a wide range of formats.
Additionally, some of his experimental film work will be included, from the 1980s to the present day. Visitors will also see a series of Tom's most iconic photographs from the 80s and 90s, alongside rarely shown works from the Cammell Laird shipyard 'Irish Work,' made since the 1970s, together with recent landscape photography made around his current home in North Wales.
Tom has had major retrospectives around the world – in China, France, London - but never in Liverpool, where he took photos every day for 25 years. Now he wants to give the work back to the city "where it belongs." Tom previously told the ECHO: "To have a show at the Walker Art gallery of all these pictures where I made them - I'm just really pleased to do it.
"What I'd love to do out of this show is connect with some of those people. If it's a good picture of them and I could do another one of them now, wouldn’t that be great? That's something I'd love to get out the show, to meet those people again.
Do you remember the Photie Man on Merseyside? Let us know in the comments section below.
"I couldn't have made this work anywhere else, I'm honestly not just saying that. It’s just something about the place and connecting with the people and the way they are."
The exhibition opens on May 20, with highlights including photos taken at the now demolished Chelsea Reach nightclub in New Brighton in the 80s. Charlotte Keenan, Head of Walker Art Gallery, previously said: "Through his photography in Liverpool and Merseyside, Tom Wood offers visitors from the local area the opportunity to revisit many recognisable people and places from our history.
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"I’m thrilled to be hosting this exhibition at the Walker, which will be a celebration of Tom Wood’s career – offering followers and newcomers alike the opportunity to take a more in-depth look at his work."
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Tickets for Photie Man: 50 Years of Tom Wood are on sale now. Adult tickets cost £9, with concessions available - members of National Museums Liverpool can visit for free. On the first Sunday of every month, Liverpool City Region residents can visit the exhibition at the discounted rate of £4.50 for adults and concessions.
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