The When We Build Again: Revisited exhibition examines Bournville’s past and present to open a conversation about its future.
When We Build Again: Revisited is an upcoming photography exhibition supported by the Bournville Village Trust, featuring contemporary stills of Bournville. The photos, taken by artist Stuart Whipps, are heavily inspired by the earlier works of photographer Bill Brandt.
Brandt was one of the most prolific photographers of the 20th century and his photos of Bournville between 1939 and 1943 were a key component of the When We Build Again report, that advocated for better housing for the working class.
Professor Matt Houlbrook, Professor of Cultural History, brought his expertise of modern British history to his partnership with Whipps to create an exhibition that explores how Bournville has changed and developed since the time of Bill Brandt. By examining this history and its relationship to the present, the photos bring into question what the future of Bournville will be as it continues to wrestle with financial and environmental challenges.
Revisiting the pioneering collaboration between Bill Brandt and Bournville Village Trust allows us to see that history in a different light. Stuart’s photographs are a striking record of Bournville today. More than this: they reveal a dynamic and often unexpected story of change and adaptation to the challenges of the past. Stuart’s work invites us to consider what Bournville was – and, in so doing, to think critically about what it is today and might be in the years to come.
When We Build Again: Revisited will be open to the public for free on Bournville Green from 4 – 27 September 2024 before moving to Shenley Court Hall from 1 – 31 October 2024.
Professor of Cultural History
Biographical information for Professor Matt Houlbrook
