Richard Williams: United States

In the accompanying information, Richard Williams, Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures at Edinburgh University, speaks of his life-long fondness for the SS United States ship. This sense of nostalgia is immediately apparent and adds an intimate, reminiscent quality to the exhibition. Warm photographs of proud parents cradling their babies aboard the ship hark back to a seemingly lost golden era. However, Williams’ collection of photographs and artefacts conjures up a powerful and slightly haunting atmosphere, reflective of the prime time of the illustrious SS United States, whilst recognising its irrelevance in our continually globalising world.

Williams’ photographs are beautifully executed. One photograph subtly yet poignantly frames the ship in such a way that it confronts the viewer with this thematic idea about globalisation eclipsing and destroying many of the industrial age’s biggest achievements. The photograph features a strongly focused metal fence in the foreground and a somewhat depleted and blurred SS United States in the distance. It epitomises this notion that the SS United States appears to be consigned to the past. As part of the exhibition Williams has also chosen to feature a series of clips and short films relating to the ship. These nicely compliment his works and add another dimension to his exploration of the SS United States and how its demise is reflective of societal change. “United States” not only documents the rise and decline of the iconic ship SS United States but also provides insightful social commentary relating to its life span. The exhibition is an aesthetically pleasing example of the capacity of the arts to accost us with visual manifestations of social issues.