Seven Hills

In Seven Hills, Hoare shows us his unique perspective of Bristol, his hometown. Presenting both the good and the bad, Hoare’s poetic imagery speaks to some of the more serious issues facing the city today, while taking into consideration Bristol’s history.  The book explores the city’s ever widening class divide, racial issues,  inequality and homelessness.

Having grown up on the edge of the city, Hoare has been able to watch from the outskirts as the city changes before him. As the economic divide in the UK becomes larger, Bristol is no exception. The wealthy inner city is becoming ever more gentrified, driving house prices up and rents up beyond affordability for many, in turn pushing many to the fringes of the city. 

Historically, much of Bristol’s wealth had been built from its significant role in the slave trade. When slave trader, Edward Colston’s statue was torn down amidst the Black Lives Matter Protest in 2020, there sparked a huge debate about racism and inequality, not just in Bristol but around the world.  

Working in response to the toppling of Colston, Hoare turns his lens on his hometown, dissecting the real and current inequalities in the city and allowing us a look at his perception of Bristol, from the fringes to the prosperous centre.

Chris is a photographer born in Bristol, 1989. It is his hometown which is the subject for much of his work. He completed an MA in Photography at University West of England and it is at the university where he currently works as a photography technician part-time. The rest of his time is spent working on long-term projects.

Within his personal work he is interested in areas of society that he feels are overlooked in some way, alongside exploring themes of identity and place.