Only In England

“Eccentricity is a quality the British prize above others.” -Tony Ray-Jones

This week I visited Only In England, a retrospective of photographer Tony Ray-Jones' work, and I believe the quote at the top of this post truly sums up this exhibition.Space of The Science Museum. The space featured more than 100 photographs, some previously unseen and many chosen by fellow photographer and fan of Ray-Jones, Martin Parr. Tony Ray-Jones had an interest in comedy and this shows throughout his images, he portrays bizarre social interactions through his work and I found that it takes more than your first glance to see the disconnected narratives layered up in the photos. The exhibition is full of quirky observations of British life, people miserably watching punch and Judy shows, men on a freezing cold beach sprawled over deck chairs wearing their finest suit, the typical British summer, and our eternal love of a good cup of tea. His work portrays melancholy in everyday life, peppered with humour and joy; it presents quirky English customs and traditions that seem a lifetime away.  The exhibition is in The Media Space at The Science Museum until March 2014 and is only £5.00 for students so definitely not one to miss!