Second homes photography show closes after complaints

AN ARTIST has been forced to take down a controversial exhibition which appears to identify second homes across the Roseland after the display sparked anger in the local community.

The series of photographs of people's homes were displayed on the King Harry Ferry as part of an art initiative in partnership with the University College Falmouth (UCF).

But residents raised concerns that, following a spate of burglaries on the Roseland over the past few months, the photographs would help criminals identify and target empty holiday homes.

The exhibition, entitled Suspected Second Homes, comprises a series of 40 Polaroid pictures taken over the last year of suspected second homes in Feock, Portscatho, Penwith, the Roseland and Fowey.

Roseland-based historian and writer, Chris Pollard, criticised the exhibition, saying: "We have had a number of break-ins recently on the Roseland. A lot of them have been targeting second homes. Having photos on the King Harry Ferry saying 'this is what a holiday home looks like' is a bit insensitive."

Mr Pollard was also concerned about the impact on visiting tourists and second home owners who use the popular ferry service.

"People who own second homes here on the Roseland may feel they are being singled out. The ferry would have been absolutely running to capacity in the coming weeks, and to choose that subject material in the middle of the holidays is just ridiculous," he said.

The controversial display was created by photographer Oliver Udy, 26, from Penryn.

The part-time teacher at St Austell College and masters degree student at UCF said he wanted to spark serious debate about the issue of second home owners.

He said: "People who own second homes are contributing to the death of the community, although there are obviously other factors. There is no doubt that they are also pushing up the property prices.

"It would be naïve for someone who has a second home not to realise that there is a lot of anger about this."

Oliver defended the exhibition, saying that the photographs are of 'suspected' second homes, based purely on an instant aesthetic judgement.

Sgt Chris Manuell, of Truro police, said putting photographs in the public domain without the home owner's permission was not a criminal offence, but that someone who does so could leave themselves open to civil litigation for damages.

"Advertising to potential criminals that places are unoccupied can be seen as an invitation to burgle. From a crime prevention and public safety perspective, this sort of photo-journalistic essay can only be seen as foolish," he said.

The exhibition is part of Embark: Ferry Art, managed by Fotonow, which displays the work of emerging artists.

The photographs had been expected to be on board the ferry for a month, but on Monday managing director of the King Harry Ferry, Tim Light, asked for the exhibition to be taken down.

He said: "Many of our customers either have second homes here, or get their income from those homes. They are vital to the Cornish economy.

"I feel that we will have achieved the artist's aims and an important issue has been raised. But I have now asked for the photographs to be replaced with some colourful images for Easter."