Acclaimed Liverpool photographer Mark McNulty has revisited thousands of his photographs of the Royal Albert Dock, resulting in a projection that will illuminate the Maritime Museum's façade throughout August. The display launches on the dock's 180th birthday, July 30, running from 9.45pm to 11pm.
Personal journey through memories
For the 60-year-old Walton-born photographer, the commission has become as much a journey through his own memories as a celebration of the destination. McNulty told the ECHO: “The first time I photographed it was before it opened. I used to photograph it when it was derelict. But not professionally. I was only an amateur photographer.”
One of his earliest photography visits came when Brookside was filming at the dock with Paula Yates, while another saw him rush down after hearing 1980s singer Yazz was appearing there. Yet one of his simplest photographs has become a favourite: a 1988 image of his friend Louise walking across Hartley's Bridge shortly after the dock reopened.
McNulty said: “It wasn't a fashion shoot, it wasn't anything like that. It was just me learning how to take photographs, photographing my friends on days out. We were just kids into music. We'd hang around Bold Street and Mathew Street and Probe. But the dock had opened, so we went down to see what it was all about. They were just photographs of my mates hanging around town.”
Evolution of the dock
He recalled that the newly-restored Albert Dock felt very different from today. “Then there were a few shops that were for tourists, and the Tate, which was the key thing. Liverpool had always had great galleries like the Walker, the Bluecoat, and the Open Eye Gallery, but the Tate was such a big deal. We used to go and see all the exhibitions there. There were little events every now and then, and I even had an exhibition of my early rave photography in one of the Albert Dock buildings in 1991. But these days the place has come on leaps and bounds.”
Over the decades, McNulty has documented Liverpool's music scene, club culture, and cultural moments, many unfolding at the dock. Curating the projection from tens of thousands of photographs, he rediscovered how often the dock appeared in his work. “I thought, 'I've got some pictures'. Then you start looking through them, and it's, 'Oh yeah, I've got that... and that... and that’. The next thing you've got to select them and you're looking through tens of thousands of photographs thinking, 'I'd forgotten how much the Albert Dock came into play in so many photographs’.”
Everyday life and community
Alongside images of friends and family are photographs of Eurovision celebrations, Luke Jerram's public artworks, The Stone Roses bassist Mani DJing at Panam bar, actor John Simm with Echo & the Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch, Alexei Sayle touring Tate Liverpool, and portraits from Liverpool's 800th birthday. McNulty also wanted to include quieter moments of everyday life. “I just went through them all and I tried to find the day-to-day moments as well. Not just the big moments.”
He believes the dock's greatest achievement is its evolution into a cultural space for everyone. “It was always a nice place to walk around but now it's become something for everybody. The restaurants have changed, the cafés, the shops, the outdoor theatre, the projections. They've had the Giants there, Eurovision, Luke Jerram's work and all these big art installations. I think Liverpool is really good when you put culture in front of people. The whole place becomes an art gallery. The Albert Dock has been really good at opening itself up to that sort of culture and I think the city has embraced it.”
Invitation to share memories
Now living in Wales, McNulty said every visit home draws him to the waterfront. “When I come back to Liverpool, the first thing I do is walk straight down to the waterfront. I just like rivers. I live in Wales by a river. I don't think I could ever live inland so I'm always drawn towards the river or the dock.”
He hopes his photographs encourage others to dig out their own memories. “I hope it sparks some memories. I'd like people to think about their own photographs and maybe go home and dig them out. This is only one person's view of the Albert Dock. I've photographed a lot but there's also a lot I haven't photographed so I'd love to see everybody else's pictures.”
The Royal Albert Dock has teamed up with the Echo to ask the public to share personal photographs of the dock from across the decades. In total, 180 images will be selected to feature in a permanent digital memory book and on a bespoke Dock Shorts projection at the end of September.
