Dr ROBERT ORGAN

 

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Dr Robert Michael Organ was born in Llanbadoc, near Usk in Gwent on 27 October 1966.

 

He attended West Monmouth Grammar School and Pontypool College.  During this time, he gained first prize in the photographic competitions of the Urdd Gobiath Cymru Eisteddfod and the Welsh National Eisteddfod Youth Section, completed an A-level in photography and became (at the time) the youngest Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society.  He attended several workshops run by the Ffotogallery in Cardiff, including one by Martin Parr. 

 

Following school, Robert obtained a first degree in Natural Sciences and a PhD at Emmanuel College in the University of Cambridge.  At university, he was President of the Emmanuel College Photographic Society, a member of the Cambridge University Photographic Society and was official photographer for the university rag activities.

 

Robert’s professional career started with scientific management positions for the lithographic printing plate manufacturing company Kodak Polychrome Graphic (formerly Horsell Graphic Industries) and for the packaging company Crown Cork and Seal (formerly Metalbox).  During this time, he married Kazuko Kobashi, a Japanese lady from the town of Kurashiki and completed an open-learning MBA at the University of Reading. 

 

 

 

Until recently, Robert was the Deputy Warden (Managing Director or Assay Master) of the London Assay Office, part of the Goldsmiths’ Company in the City of London.  The Assay Office is responsible for the hallmarking of precious metal jewellery.  The picture shows Robert and Kazuko at Goldsmiths’ Hall.  He has now retired from full-time work but continues as a consultant.

 

Robert was exposed to the visual arts at early stage by his father, Michael Organ, a well-known Welsh artist.  Although clichéd, his interest in photography began at age ten after the captivating sight of an image appearing "as if by magic" in the developing tray.  He has taken photographs continuously ever since that time and has amassed a large archive. 

 

PROJECTS AND EXHBITION HISTORY

 

Robert’s projects are the ones shown on this website.

 

His one-man exhibitions are shown below:

 

 

  2010

‘Home and Away’

Torfaen Museum

 

 

  2019

‘Global Stories’               

Four Corners Gallery, Bethnal Green, London

 

 

  2019

‘Memories of Japan’     

Torfaen Museum

 

 

  2020

‘Surreal’                           

Torfaen Museum

 

 

  2023

‘More Surreal’

Old Fire Station Gallery, Henley-on-Thames