Feature
Allison Gretchko is an American photographer and writer born in Chicago and based in London.
Mclaine’s series, An Understanding of John 1:1-5. is a collection of photographs and writing that draws from a particularly formative two-year period during her time in Cambridge. Though many depict people, the photographs are also marked by a striking inwardness. Figures often appear contemplative, distant or suspended in silence, reflecting both a shared intimacy and isolation. Alongside portraits, her work features images of objects and spaces illuminated by a light that seems to emerge from the shadows. “I’m much more interested in objects that just quietly appear,” she explains, resisting what she describes as the impulse to photograph with conquest or intention. In this way, photography becomes something that happens to the artist, rather than something imposed upon the world.