- Soo Burnell builds on her acclaimed Scottish poolside collection
- New exhibition explores Japan’s love of warm healing waters
Scottish fine art photographer Soo Burnell has turned her focus to Japanese culture for a new exhibition, building on her acclaimed poolside collections – which included historic Scottish swimming pools.
At the Onsen, A Journey Into Stillness, takes place at Edinburgh’s Saorsa Gallery from 3-11 May, and is an opportunity to see 40 new pieces by an artist who is highly praised for her “striking images” (Stephanie Wade, Editor, IGNANT).
Soo has long had a fascination with the atmosphere and beauty of the places we create for bathing as well as the rituals and traditions they embody. Her photography has a sense of mystery, drawing viewers into mesmerising parallel worlds.
Soo said: “I’ve been desperate to visit Japan for as long as I can remember. I’ve been fascinated by Japanese culture and the beautiful architecture, shrines and gardens.
“After shooting so many Victorian baths in Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe, I was fascinated to dive deeper into the Japanese tradition of bathing and the importance of these warm healing waters.”
Last September’s trip to Japan aimed to explore the country’s onsens, bathhouses fed by natural hot springs, often volcanic, and which much-loved placed for leisure and relaxation.
These are places for healing the body and the mind (a therapeutic practice called toji). Hot spring towns (akin to spa towns in Europe) flourished in the Edo period 1603-1868.
Soo also visited sentos, traditional bathhouses, which are communal but with separate areas for men and women.
The onsen and sento are architectural opposites: one white and calm with arched windows and natural light, the other of dark wood. The create very different moods yet both are calm and peaceful with the constant sound of running water.
The trip took a year of planning and research with Soo eventually selecting seven locations that she wanted to visit.
The photography itself required time, and care, with Soo collaborating closely with her models so they were perfectly posed and presented to catch the calm and stillness of the bathhouses.
While the new collection stands in contrast to her poolside collections, there are common threads and themes.
Soo said: “I loved the pastel colour palette of the sentos, and the stories told through the murals, which were incredibly detailed.
“Also, they feel central to the communities they serve, reminding me of the historic swimming pools from my poolside collections – spaces that encouraged gathering, whether as families going to swim together or with people from the wider community.”
Listings Details
- Exhibition: At The Onsen, A Journey Into Stillness
- Venue: Saorsa Art Gallery, Deanhaugh St, Stockbridge, Edinburgh. EH4 1LY
- Times: 12pm-5pm
- Dates: 3-11 May
- Entry: Free
About Soo Burnell
Soo grew up in Edinburgh where she found inspiration in the buildings. These early impressions were to inform her later work. Following a project at Glenogle Baths, a pool she swam in as a child, Soo was reintroduced to the beauty of the architecture and the serenity found in these spaces, and this was the catalyst for a new direction in her photography.
Soo began documenting other historic pools around Edinburgh with the intention of capturing their striking architecture and, by contrast, the stillness housed within. She went on to photograph notable pools across the UK, from Aberdeen to London. Since then, Soo has photographed pools across Europe, including in Paris, for an exhibition called Into The Blue.
Over the last six years, Soo’s work has been showcased internationally, including exhibitions in New York, Paris, Berlin, The Hague, Ostend, London, Tokyo and Seoul, and she is represented by galleries all over the world.
In 2021, Soo published her first book, To the Water, and an updated second edition is due for release later this year. Soo’s work has also been featured in numerous publications, both digital and in print, including Accidentally Wes Anderson Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Instagram @sooukdotcom Website https://soo-burnell.com
Soo on her photography
“I love a hidden portrait where the viewer is left wondering who the subject is and what their story might be; the mystery of the character and why they’re there. I enjoy that ambiguity, and I like that it can have a different story to each viewer.
“My work explores my passion for architecture and composition. I’ve been fascinated by both for years, both consciously as a photographer but also growing up in Edinburgh and absorbing so much incredible architecture.
“Throughout my work, I’ve always wanted to capture the striking geometry along with the dramatic proportions and atmosphere of each space. The eye is drawn in to the architecture and the symmetry, and I use blocks of colour to show interesting shapes and proportions.”
Praise for Soo’s work
“Burnell’s nostalgic and immersive images capture the spirit of these architectural ‘great dames’ in a haunting light.” Betty Wood, Editor, The Spaces.
“The striking images in ‘To the Water’ showcase Burnell’s talent at capturing the geometric precision of each architectural pool. Posing swimmers, stunning colour palettes and dappled reflections of water combine to present an atmospheric collection of dream-like works.” Stephanie Wade, Editor, IGNANT
“A wonderful celebration of the beauty to be found in swimming pools all over the UK and Europe.” Isabelle Aron, Time Out.