Photography, Publications
THE SILENCE OF DOGS
Martin Usborne explores the frailty of the animal condition in The Silence of Dogs in Cars, now updated and published by Hoxton Mini Press.
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THE SILENCE OF DOGS
‘Just wait in the car I’ll only be five minutes…’, a voice trails off and the car door slams. They’re words that most of us have heard at one time or another, be they from a harried parent or from a friend dashing into 7/11 to grab the lighter/toilet paper/chewing gum they so desperately need. For the person left in the car the strange slowing of time, the contemplation of what could possibly be taking so long, the questioning of just how five minutes can stretch are all tossed around. Imagine how a dog left in the same situation feels. It’s something that photographer Martin Usborne has spent some time meditating on.
Usborne’s reminiscence of being left alone in a car as a child ‘wondering if anyone would come back’ triggered the idea ‘that in a child’s mind it is possible to be alone forever’. His affinity for animals and his interest in the power relationship between animals and humans led to his photographic series The silence of dogs in cars, available in book form from Hoxton Mini Press.
The London-based photographer shot the series predominantly at night in bleak weather, adding a cinematic feel to the storytelling. The mood is set further by the chiefly dated and beat up vehicles which frame each of the subjects whose lament is so obviously visible to the viewer. What is surprising are the myriad reactions which Usborne has coaxed out of the subjects. Usborne writes ‘When I started this project I knew the photos would be dark. What I didn’t expect was to see so many subtle reactions by the dogs: some sad, some expectant, some angry, some dejected. It was as if upon opening up a box of grey-coloured pencils I was surprised to see so many shades inside.’
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All images courtesy of Martin Usborne / Hoxton Mini Press
You can buy the book here
DOG-FRIENDLY: TAKE THE LEAD
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
PACK OF DOGS
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
POWER COUPLE
Pioneering ‘species-fluid’ fashion, THEANIMALS™ brings human and hound even closer together.
January 28, 2023
THE LONG WAIT
In his third and final instalment of The Waiting Game, artist Txema Salvans photographs dogs tied to lives of waiting.
January 26, 2023
LITTLE WONDERS
Clean-lined, minimal and irresistibly cute, Odile Ferraille depicts dogs living their best, carefree lives.
January 23, 2023
HOME AND DRY
Bath time can be a dignified affair with MiaCara’s new Groom collection, designed to bring luxe to wet dogs.
November 28, 2022
UP CLOSE AND PARTICULARLY PERSONAL
Photographer Sophie Zimmermann celebrates the “small moments in between” of dog portraiture.
November 21, 2022
WHETHER THE WEATHER
From raincoats and puffers to sweaters and bathrobes, Cloud7 designs for every dog and all occasions. But that’s not to stay one style fits all.
October 31, 2022
MUTUAL ADMIRATION
London-based illustrator Ashley Percival creates colourful prints full of energy and charged with imagination.
October 11, 2022
LET LOOSE
For his series ‘Compositions and Attitudes’ photographer Hosung Jang captures dogs’ unadulterated curiosity.
September 30, 2022
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