Fiona Tan: Vox Populi, The Photographer's Gallery - review

Family photo albums used to be a presence in every household, brought out when relatives visited or died, or when the mood struck to turn back to memories. Fiona Tan’s fascination with them began in 2004 when she borrowed albums from families in Norway. The project has continued in Sydney, Tokyo, Switzerland and now London, revealing significant demographic maps from between the Sixties and Nineties.

Londoners responded to Tan’s written requests with 90 photo albums which she edited to 250 images for the exhibition. Most are obviously amateur but several carefully-thought-out qualify beyond the status of “snaps”. Each hangs in an identical small box frame at postcard size, arranged as a grid according to themes — portraits, weddings, babies, outings, family get-togethers. Babies giggle in bubble baths, families pose in gardens, an Indian couple pose against Big Ben, wild dancers cavort in sitting rooms, and the clothes and hairstyles, interior décor, gardens and games all identify the eras. The changing colour tones and textures reflect technical changes in film and processing and also add to the historical significance.

The digital era saw an end to family photo albums and memories are now mostly resurrected on screens, but for many of us, prints still hold the imagined feel of the past. Tan admits that her first Vox Populi led her to her own family’s photo album and triggered strong memories.

Until September 30 (020 7087 9300, tpg.org.uk)