Chris Steele-Perkins moved from Rangoon to London with his family in 1949. He graduated with honours in psychology at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1967-70) while working as a photographer and picture editor for the student newspaper.
In 1971 he moved to London and started working as a freelance photographer and started his first foreign work in 1973 in Bangladesh followed by work for relief organizations and travel assignments. In 1975 he worked with EXIT, a group dealing with social problems in British cities. He then joined the Paris-based Viva agency in 1976.
In 1979, his first book, The Teds, was published. Chris joined Magnum and soon began working extensively in the Third World. His latest large-scale project is on the situation in Afghanistan. He is now also working extensively in Japan.
His reportages have received high public acclaim and have won several awards, including:
- The Tom Hopkinson Prize for British Photojournalism (1988)
- The Oscar Barnack Prize (1988)
- The Robert Capa Gold Medal (1989).
CURRENT EXHIBITION
Disposable People -Magnum group show of 8 photographers dealing with contemporary Slavery. My work on Korean Comfort Women (Japanese military sex slaves during WW ll.)
28 February - 9 April 2009 University of Northumbria, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. 23 May - 5 July 2009 Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle. 1 August - 13 September 2009 New Art Exchange, Nottingham. 7 November - 3 January 2010 Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
NEWS
Just published. New book, ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND, of English photographs - Northumbria University Press - This is a very personal retrospective of work shot in England over the last 40 years and is available from October 8th. See some images in Books on this site.
Working on new body of work on Carers in England in cooperation with Carers UK and Princess Royal Trust. With financial support for the Arts Council.
http://www.mediafire.com/?zmnzvojzom1
EXHIBITION
ENGLAND, MY ENGLAND exhibition now on at Northumbria University Gallery, Sandyford Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne until 4th June. It will come to London and open in Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG on 18th June to 30th July. Catch it if you can.
Biography
The Teds 1979
About 70 Photographs 1980
La Gréce au Présent 1981
Survival Programmes:
In Britain's Inner Cities (with Nicholas Battye and Paul Trevor) 1982
Beirut: Frontline Story 1983
The Pleasure Principle 1989
St. Thomas Hospital 1992
Afghanistan, Marvel 2000
Fuji, Umbrage 2001
The Teds (reissue) Dewi Lewis 2002
Echoes, Trolley, 2004
Tokyo Love Hello, Intervalles, 2007
Northern Exposures, Northumbria University Press, 2007
England, My England, Northumbria University Press, 2009