INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD ALLENBY-PRATT

by art journalist and writer Lisa Pollman

Richard Allenby-Pratt, Car logistics facility, United Arab Emirates, 2013

3rd Prize - Professional Commission ScarcityWaste Syngenta Photography Award

Where did you get your inspiration for the post-apocalyptic Dubai series?
Firstly I have to say, it wasnt myself who gave it the post-apocalyptic tag! The backstory is
a future world where were not reliant on oil for energy, so its more of a utopian dream.
Of course, in such a utopian dream there would be winners and losers, in an economic
sense, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region would probably be one of the losers;
so in a GCC context the project might be viewed as post-apocalyptic, but in a global sense
it would be quite the opposite!
The inspiration for the project came from the urban landscape of the post-economic
collapse period. I incorporated earlier shots as well; sheets of film that have languished in
storage for a number of years. The idea of incorporating the animals came from a
commercial project I did many years ago where I had to composite uncooperative animals
into scenes of a desert reserve. In the abandoned project I strived to find a point of
disbelief that was both credible and ludicrous.

With the decrease in the price of oil and various political events in the region,
do you think that a mass exodus from Dubai would in fact be possible?
I think its always a possibility because most of the residents are not naturalised and
cant call it home. If there was a serious economic downturn, political unrest or security
problems, wed all leave. The government of Dubai and the UAE strive to avoid any of
those scenarios, but still enjoy the benefits of having a flexible, productive, and,
ultimately, disposable workforce.
Please tell us about your three trips to the Sabkha. How is it different from other
areas in the UAE? What did you find surprising about the landscape that you did
not know before you journeyed there?
The Sabkha is a fascinating landscape. It is one of the planets most inhospitable
environments for life because of the high salinity. Most of the UAEs diverse desert
landscapes are capable of, and do, support surprisingly diverse flora and fauna.
But the Sabkha, at least at first sight, appears to be almost entirely dead. However,
life does exist there, be it the few halophytic plants that can tolerate the salinity, or the
cyanobacteria that forms mud mats across large areas. The later is particularly fascinating
in being one of the earliest life forms on the planet and at least partly responsible for our
oxygen-rich environment that sustains the tremendous biodiversity on earth.
Photography, as a medium has been present in the region since the 19th century and
has in some ways, been a contributor towards Arab stereotypes. As a contemporary
visual artist working in the Middle East, do you feel that photography is well received
as an art form and does it continue to portray an untrue picture of the region and its
people? How?
Photography, being more accessible to more people, is well received here. But perhaps
it is not yet fully respected as an art form as it has become elsewhere in the world.
Whatever label you put on it, its as influential here as anywhere (you just dont see it in
galleries so much) With regard to the accuracy with which photography portrays Arabia,
I cant see any significant difference with how it depicts any region. The average practitioner
is still attracted to cliches, but a smaller proportion try to dig for deeper truths.
Im not sure I know many people who are still looking for Oriental Romanticism; peoples
perceptions are more likely to be influenced by the news media and Hollywood. Dubai and
the UAEs brand is so different from the rest of the region, its difficult to talk about them in
the same sentence and I cant claim any special insight on the wider Middle East.
The authorities of the UAE are masters of controlling their public image, and, perhaps,
that helps people like myself who are seeking the authenticity behind the mask, because,
as in economics, scarcity brings value.

Richard Allenby-Pratt, Rubble landfill site, United Arab Emirates, 2012

3rd Prize - Professional Commission ScarcityWaste Syngenta Photography Award

You are a contributor for the online site called Green Prophet.
What is the site about and how has it been received by readers both in
the Middle East and outside of the region?
Green Prophet primarily reports on issues relating to sustainability in the Middle East.
I cant really comment on how its received as I dont know, but I believe it to be another
valuable voice in the chorus of people calling for more attention to be paid to these issues,
in this region.
Tell us about being a finalist for the Syngenta Award. Please tell us more
about the award and this years theme. What image did you submit and how
did it address the theme?
Ive just come back from three days in London, engaged in a program of events relating
to the award, including panel discussions and presentations of my work in addition to the
exhibition in Somerset House. The theme was Scarcity-Waste, and the series of ten
images, from my consumption project, that were selected, looked at these issues, and the
impact on the natural landscape, in the UAE.
Any upcoming awards, group/solo shows, biennales that youll be participating in
during the next six months?
Nothing confirmed. Ive had a few discussions, but Im now starting to seriously consider
opportunities to exhibit my consumption project in Dubai, most likely in some pop-up
context, as my way of working doesnt really fit in with the gallery system. My main interest is
advocacy and I look for opportunities to communicate these messages to larger audiences.
Ive also started, a little, to work with government agencies here in Dubai, and this is an
activity I hope to expand. Im trying to improve my, somewhat limited, diplomacy skills!