Art / Jon Tonks
Martin Parr Foundation to exhibit Jon Tonks’ images of Cornish fishing communities
Selected three times for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition, acclaimed documentary photographer Jon Tonks moved into photojournalism after a background in design.
After an inspiring journey across the South Atlantic capturing images of life on four remote British overseas territories, his first book Empire received the Vic Odden Award by the Royal Photographic Society.
In the last decade, Tonks’ work has been featured in numerous national and international publications including The Guardian, Le Monde and The New York Times.
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Seabass, Newlyn Fish Market – photo: © Jon Tonks
Isles of Scilly – photo: © Jon Tonks
He was recently commissioned by We Feed the UK, a national storytelling campaign bringing photographers and poets together with food producers in a bid “to raise public awareness of their positive solutions to climate change, wildlife recovery and social justice”.
In a bid to immersive himself in the world of small-scale fishing, Tonks spent a year getting to know the multi-generational fishing communities around the Cornish coast, including Newlyn, Mousehole, Cadgwith, and the Isles of Scilly.
Portloe Harbour – photo: © Jon Tonks
David, at Newlyn Harbour after fishing for cuttlefish – photo: © Jon Tonks
Understanding their singular stories, traditions and challenges, he also came to understand how these people could help him to tell a bigger story about community traditions, our delicate relationship with nature, sustainability and our connection – or lack of – with the food we eat.
Tonk’s remarkable photos capture the lives of fisherfolk who must forever be in tune with an ever-changing sea, subject to calm stillness one minute and wild storms the next. He also heard numerous accounts of the impacts of climate change, as well as overfishing and bottom trawling from giant vessels.
Jacob, pulling in lobster pots, Isles of Scilly – photo: © Jon Tonks
A flying lobster, being returned, Isles of Scilly – photo: © Jon Tonks
Complementing the images are words from poet, Chris Redmond. The collaboration can be seen in a forthcoming exhibition at Martin Parr Foundation: A Fish Called Julie / In Waters off Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
A far cry from the scale and anonymity of a supermarket fish aisle, the ‘Julie’ of the title refers to the labelling of one of the fish from a particular day’s catch.
Will, fishing for mackerel, Newlyn – photo: © Jon Tonk
‘Being a small-scale fisher in Cornwall is a metaphor for how to live your life,” reflects Tonks.
“When the weather tells you not to fish, listen. Allow the seas to replenish. Sustainable fishing means something different to everyone, but real sustainability teaches us not to be greedy, to give nature a chance and leave enough for the next generation.”
A fishing boat heading out of Cadgwith Harbour – photo: © Jon Tonks
David and Vinnie, pulling in nets offshore, Newlyn – photo: © Jon Tonks
Jon Tonks: A Fish Called Julie / In Waters off Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is at Martin Parr Foundation on April 3-June 22. Gallery opening times are Thursday to Sunday, 10.30am-5.30pm; closed Monday to Wednesday. Entry to the exhibition is free. Visit www.martinparrfoundation.org or www.jontonks.com for more information, or follow @jon_tonks.
A Fish Called Julie will coincide with an exhibition of the We Feed The UK project of photographs and poetry to be exhibited at the Royal Photographic Society from April 3-June 22, and a book will be published by Papadakis in June 2025.
All photos: Jon Tonks (main photo: Roger, unloading his catch, Newlyn Harbour © Jon Tonks)
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