In this episode we had the pleasure to talk to self-taught British photographer Rob Hann.
Born in Salisbury in the south of England in 1954, Rob grew up and worked for some time on a farm near Stonehenge.
In 1981 he flew to San Francisco and hitchhiked down the coast with a tent, a sleeping bag, and a Jack Kerouac novel in his backpack, staying at State beach campgrounds.
In the 80’s, Rob lived in New York and he worked in restaurants, bars, and also as a bicycle messenger. During those days in East Village he met fashion designer Willi Smith who asked him to be in an upcoming fashion show for him. This led to a 10 year career as a model in fashion and advertising.
At the age of 31, he bought a camera with the idea of being a photographer when the modeling career would be over. He was very inspired by an Irving Penn exhibition, bought the exhibition catalogue, and pored over his portraits most evenings.
In 1993 he shot his first commission, a portrait of Lydia Lunch for Lime Lizard magazine. It was the first of over 900 commissions for many leading magazines, newspapers and record companies.
Among many others he photographed: Tom Hanks, David Byrne, Willem Dafoe, Chuck D, Steve Buscemi, Daft Punk, JG Ballard, Chloe Sevigny, Gilberto Gil, Paul Auster, Timothy Spall, Moby, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Moore, Ewan McGregor, Ray Liotta, Michael Stipe, Paulo Coelho, Mark Wahlberg, Paul Smith and Gil Scott-Heron.
Rob also has 7 photographs in the permanent collection of The National Portrait Gallery in London.
In October 2001, having watched a documentary called ‘This is Modern Art’, where the narrator visited Marfa, Texas, Rob decided to take a road trip through the American Southwest with his camera. Returning from that adventure he felt he had a basis of a photo book, but probably needed to travel again to get more material.
Having thought he needed only one more trip, it took him 17 years and many more road trips to complete the book.
Rob flew to LA again in April 2002 and took another route shooting more pictures along the way.
In 2010 he turned exclusively to road trip photography throughout the United States.
Rob’s photographs have been included in several group shows and he had his first solo show at Christian Larsen gallery in Stockholm, Sweden, in November 2013 and his first solo museum show at Nassjo Konsthall in Nassjo, Sweden, in June 2018.
His first book, Diesel Fried Chicken was published by The Artist Edition in 2018.
Limited edition prints are available through Clic Gallery in New York City and Larsen Warner gallery in Stockholm.
Instagram - @rob.hann
Interview with British photographer Rob Hann