Andy Wiener’s *Visitation Scenes*, published by Dewi Lewis Publishing in 2020, explores the lives of members of the photographer’s family using photographic masks made from archive images from a family album. When worn, the masks create the effect of these people coming back to life in a ghostly, surreal way. Wiener travelled with the masks to places where his relatives lived many years ago and asked participants to wear them, lending their identities to people from the past.

Scattered throughout the book is archive material showing the places as they were, along with other historical references. These images remind us how common it is to be displaced, of the fragility of time and place, and of the transient nature of life. Wiener’s work transcends the personal to reflect upon society and experience, questioning the photograph as evidence and a trace, and revealing the performance of the everyday.

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Wiener studied photography at the Royal College of Art in London. A pioneer in staged photography in the 1980s, he has worked in that genre for over thirty years, often using photographic masks, and his work has been published and exhibited widely. His first book, *Cautionary Tales*, was published by Cornerhouse in 1990, and his exhibitions have included a solo show at Street Level, Glasgow, and a group show at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Alongside photography, Wiener is a consultant psychiatrist. He graduated in medicine at Edinburgh and practices in children’s and young people’s mental health at the Tavistock Clinic in London. The common theme across both areas of his practice is the exploration of what lies beneath the surface. The hardback book measures 290mm x 248mm, runs to 72 pages, and contains 46 photographs.