Alex Benn, Senior Lecturer in Law, has been photographed for Oliver Frank Chanarin’s most recent project. The project, entitled “A Perfect Sentence”, aims to showcase the range of modern Britain.

According to Oliver Frank Chanarin’s website, he often finds himself on the margins of society – from suburban fetish clubs and amateur dramatics groups in church halls to gender activists protesting. In his work, Chanarin tries to reconcile British eccentricity with the urgent need for representation in a context fragmented by political polarisation, isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the weaponisation of identity politics.

Over a year, Chanarin took over 2,750 analogue colour negatives, which he then hand-printed in a darkroom to produce unique prints with the final artwork comprising 300 images. A selection of photographs can currently be viewed at the Museum of Making in Derby.

A Perfect Sentence has been reviewed in a variety of publications, including The Guardian and I-D Magazine. A book has also been published by Loose Joints.

Alongside practising as a criminal barrister, Alex has taught law at Univ since 2019. Alex studied law as an undergraduate at St Catherine’s and moved to Univ as a postgraduate in 2018.

Photograph: Oliver Frank Chanarin, with anon, 10 x 8 inches, c-type print, unique artist proof (#3432958341), 2023. Courtesy and © the artist. Commissioned and produced by Forma, in collaboration with eight UK organisations. Supported by Arts Council England, Art Fund and Outset Partners. The full, uncropped photo can be viewed here. 

Published: 4 August 2023

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