This Class Works

Exhibition by Pete McKee

Jo’s work featured in ‘THIS CLASS WORKS’ focuses on three pubs located in Sheffield: The Wentworth, situated below the towering presence of Sheffield Forgemasters, The Fat Cat in Kelham Island, and the Fairfield Inn located in Neepsend, which is now permanently closed. All of these pubs have a history steeped in industry. Consistent with Peel’s defining style, not a soul can be seen in each image. Although some may associate these sites with a certain class, the absence of figures allows ‘everyone to read their own story into these environments’, making the work ‘classless’. The lack of human presence, typical indicators of dates, time frames and decades, imbue the pieces with a powerful silence and an almost apocalyptic atmosphere. This static quiet draws the viewer into the detail of the work’s skilfully rendered topography, allowing contemplation of the images’ boundless beauty.

The Farfield Inn, 2018