BBQs, prayer and lager: joyful photos of summers in Southend-on-Sea
- Text by Miss Rosen
- Photography by Owen Harvey
With its captivating blend of tradition, romance, and absurdity, the British seaside has a signature destination for documentary photographers, with luminaries like Tony Ray-Jones, David Hurn, Chris Killip, and Martin Parr have elevated distinctly British landscape to the realms of high art.
For British photographer Owen Harvey, the seaside – a place he frequently visited on holiday while growing up in the '90s and ‘00s – was filled with memories of innocence and youth.
In 2018, Harvey visited Southend-on-Sea in Essex for the first time and immediately felt a connection to the people and place. Cast in the golden glow of times past, the town inspired Harvey to reflect on his own childhood. Drawn by a powerful sense of nostalgia, Owen began chronicling everyday life the town he would soon call home.
Now, Harvey looks back at life where water meets earth in the new exhibition, Last Days of Summer, at Twenty-One Gallery in Southend-on-Sea. The show brings together works of leisure and place, while also preserving the inclusive spirit of the community.
“Lots of people come down to Essex from East London for those infrequent boiling summer days that England has,” says Harvey. “Of course East London is very multicultural, so there’s no one kind of individual who comes down to visit. It’s interesting to observe how people use the area in different ways, whether that be for BBQs on the beach, prayer, or getting 10 pints of lager down them.”
Surrounded by day-trippers and weekenders, Harvey is drawn to moments of rest and repose, where people are finally free from the relentless toil of work. “The large majority of people are here for an affordable trip and to let off some steam. It’s good for the local economy and often great for pictures,” he says.
Drawn to moments of relaxation and repose, Harvey crafts a kaleidoscopic look at devotees working on their tans under the blazing summer sun, diving off the piers into the calming waves of the sea, and enjoying rides at the fairgrounds with friends and loved ones. “Usually when people are in their time of leisure, they can be their truest self, which is what I’m always interested in capturing,” he says.
Understanding the importance of striking the proper balance between candour and comfort when photographing strangers in public, Harvey takes measures to secure prearranged access to the locations he photographs and makes sure that everyone he is engaging with understands why he is making the work.
“The privilege and curse of photographing somewhere you live is that you can pick up the camera any time and get out there to make the pictures, but equally there’s always tomorrow,” says Harvey.
“It’s deepened my approach to documentary work, as it made me more aware of how I’m representing a place and the people who occupy that space. This is a snapshot of what Southend-on-Sea looks like in 2023.”
Owen Harvey: Last Days of Summer is on view through July 16 2023, at Twenty-One Gallery in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
Follow Miss Rosen on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
Are we steamrolling towards the apocalypse?
One second closer to midnight — While the rolling news cycle, intensifying climate crisis and rapidly advancing technology can make it feel as if the end days are upon us, newsletter columnist Emma Garland remembers that things have always been terrible, and that is a natural part of human life.
Written by: Emma Garland
In a city of rapid gentrification, one south London estate stands firm
A Portrait of Central Hill — Social housing is under threat across the British capital. But residents of the Central Hill estate in Crystal Palace are determined to save their homes, and their community.
Written by: Alex King
Analogue Appreciation: Maria Teriaeva’s five pieces that remind her of home
From Sayan to Savoie — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. First up, the Siberian-born, Paris-based composer and synthesist.
Written by: Maria Teriaeva
Petition to save the Prince Charles Cinema signed by over 100,000 people in a day
PCC forever — The Soho institution has claimed its landlord, Zedwell LSQ Ltd, is demanding the insertion of a break clause that would leave it “under permanent threat of closure”.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Remembering Taboo, the party that reshaped ’80s London nightlife
Glitter on the floor — Curators Martin Green and NJ Stevenson revisit Leigh Bowery’s legendary night, a space for wild expression that reimagined partying and fashion.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
A timeless, dynamic view of the Highland Games
Long Walk Home — Robbie Lawrence travelled to the historic sporting events across Scotland and the USA, hoping to learn about cultural nationalism. He ended up capturing a wholesome, analogue experience rarely found in the modern age.
Written by: Isaac Muk