EMERGENCE

About

MAKE Southwest asked for submissions from emerging photographers who are working in any of a broad spectrum of photographic techniques: analogue or digital, cameraless, collage or film.

Imogen Bastone (Bristol); Nick Cooney (Cornwall); Miles Critchley-Hope, (Somerset); Olivia Eden (Cornwall); Louis Izard (Somerset); Jake Tebbutt (Cornwall); and Jake Varker (Cornwall) are the seven selected photographers in EMERGENCE.

MAKE Southwest defined ‘emerging’ as being within three years of graduating or setting up as a photographer, whether full or part-time. A panel of judges selected the seven photographers by taking into consideration the range of techniques, competence, individual voice and concept, and relevance to the seven exhibitors featured alongside them in Responding to Light, a major exhibition running alongside that studies the links between the photographic medium and craft.

Imogen Bastone has always been concerned with the human-nature relationship, with an unfaltering desire to understand her connection with the world outside of her own. She uses photography and writing as a method of sensory engagement and conversation with non-human spaces and creatures and in her most recent work, she has focused on the idea of relearning the ancient language of forests. Shot using a Box Brownie; a basic cardboard box roll film camera introduced in October 1901 and discontinued in late 1935, and commonly credited with introducing the concept of the snapshot to the masses; one of her prints will be showcased at a size of approximately 1.8M x 2.9M, “to encourage the audience
to enter the space physically.”

Largely self-taught, Nick Cooney examines the way that our current experiences of images and image-making are simultaneously enhanced by, and in some ways disassembled and misaligned with our lived experience and our memories of time and place. At times he initially uses an iPhone, regarding it as both a simple photography technology and an ubiquitous and powerful tool.

Miles Critchley-Hope creates digital images of artificial waste materials in settings such as scrap yards and waste disposal centres. Each image is constructed from 12 to 17 photographs, creating a photographic sculpture through carefully positioning and layering each photograph. The subject matter and processes reflect both a personal preference and a foreboding commentary on how we treat our planet's environment.

Olivia Eden’s work is predominantly camera-less and analogue, promoting sustainable darkroom methods and practices. She transforms what are normally unique and spontaneous processes into a slow meditative practice where the final results, created using seaweed and coastline materials, resemble abstract silhouettes, bubbles, feathered patterns and other intricate textures.

Louis Izard developed a strong interest in how landscapes transform at night, evolving from comfort and familiarity into dark alien locations where many would fear to wander. Choosing to explore this change photographically and how twilight impacts the visual appearance of previously benign landscapes, his images are captured during this period of visual uncertainty and through the introduction of haze created by utilising prismatic refraction.

Jake Tebbutt focuses on the landscapes that surround him, highlighting themes such as place and identity. His works in EMERGENCE were made at isolated locations within Plymouth Sound at shipwreck sites. Working with both the landscape and photographic paper at night, the end results share the hidden beauty of these tragic locations.

Jake Varker seeks to construct poetic imagery concentrating on his own surroundings and experiences. This series is an emotional response to the relationship he has with his hometown of St Austell, Cornwall, using photography to recognise and acknowledge his own complex feelings, as well as communicating feelings of restlessness and hope in the town through the eyes of its youth.

The judging panel comprised Jem Southam who has lived, worked and photographed in Devon for the past 30 years and is an Emeritus Professor of Photography at Plymouth University, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and Honorary Academician at Royal West of England Academy; Matthew Pontin who is Creative Director at Fotonow CIC - a creative social enterprise based in Plymouth that specialises in socially engaged photography; and Flora Pearson, Exhibitions Manager, MAKE Southwest.

As Matthew Pontin says of the photographers featured in Emergence, "It's been inspiring to look through the submissions for Emergence and I was impressed by the diversity in approaches to using photography as a tool to communicate stories and share ideas. The Southwest has a rich art history and it's amazing to see that photographic practice is really significant here now, enabling graduates and self-taught photographers to develop a career here. It will be interesting to see how things develop for those selected to be part of this show. We expect great things!"