Biography
Dr John Kippin (b. 1950) studied at Brighton Polytechnic and University of Northumbria, Newcastle where he later taught, developing and leading the Contemporary Photographic Practice programme. He later became the Head of School of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Cumbria and subsequently was awarded a research position at the University of Sunderland. He developed the subject of Photography and its associated academic programme with the creation of research initiatives such as the IPRN (International Photography Research Network) and the NEPN (North East Photography Network). He was chair of APHE (Association of Photography in Higher Education) and is currently chair of Locus+. He is an Emeritus Professor in Photography at the University of Sunderland and currently lives and works in Newcastle upon Tyne. In the early 1970s Kippin exhibited at, and was a member of the co–operative of young artists responsible for developing 2B Butler’s Wharf at Tower Bridge, London as a key venue for ‘alternative’ arts practice such as performance, artist’s film, moving image and installation works. He later moved to Newcastle upon Tyne where he became a member of the Basement Group, a mostly performance led group of artists that eventually evolved into the current artist’s organisation Locus+ . His work has been widely exhibited in the UK including The Baltic, Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle and at the Serpentine Gallery, the Photographer’s Gallery and the Imperial War Museum in London. His work has also been exhibited in Europe, America and Asia. He has published a number of books and has contributed to numerous conferences and academic symposia.
