PHOTOSHOOTS
Every photograph is handcrafted glass plate created from pure silver and after being photographed you can observe the process. The photoshoot takes about 1.30-2h and results in 2 glass plates.
An exhibition organised by London Alternative Photography Collective at Four Corners Gallery - curated by Hayley Harrison, Melanie King, and Ky Lewis
Private View: Thursday 16th May 2024 18.00 - 20.30. Photo-scanner synth demo by Hack Modular.
Exhibition Open: Wed 15th May - Saturday 18th May 2024 11.00 -18.00.
Four Corners: 121 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0QN
‘Symbiosis’ is a group exhibition exploring the relationship between image makers, the more-than-human, and alternative photographic processes.
When working with analogue and alternative photographic processes, light, water, and botanicals are harvested to expose, process, tone and transform work. During this transformation, there is dependency on non-human elements.
This exhibition considers the connections between symbiosis and alternative photography, and asks if nature is a collaborator or a commodity in alternative photography processes.
What does it mean to be in relationship with a landscape or a plant for extended periods of time – to witness the interplay between individual species within their ecosystems? What is the role of artistic testimony when witnessing symbiosis within these relationships?
Whether by process or theme, this exhibition documents interspecies relationships – including those between humans and non-humans. Photographic and momentary, they are mid-relationship – we can only guess the before and after.
How do we bear witness to symbiotic relationships between different species, alongside our responsibility to acknowledge that the true definition of symbiosis is both parasitic and mutualistic? Much like alternative photographic processes, balance and equilibrium are essential to symbiosis.
During the exhibition opening there will be a photo-scanner synth demo by Hack Modular. The synthesizer module generates sound by rapidly scanning lines across photographs. Variations between dark and light translate directly to the movement of the speaker. Slides therefore are wavetables and contain a unique set of sounds. Moving the transparency across the linear photo-scanner shifts the timbre of the sound. Scan rate equates to pitch. Lamp intensity controls dynamics.
Artists:
Aindreas Scholz / Anna Kroeger / Anna Luk / Anna Lukala / Catriona Gray / Constanza Isaza Martinez / Ed Sykes / Eileen White / Eric Fong / Hayley Harrison / Heloise Bergman / Inga Tillere / Jacqui Barrowcliffe / Katrina Stamatopoulos / Ky Lewis / Laura Hindmarsh / Leanne Wiggers / Luca Ortis / Magda Kuca / Martha Gray / Megan Ringrose / Melanie King / Milena Michalski / Nettie Edwards / Paeony Lewis / Riya Panwar / Roellof Bakker / Sayako Sugawara / Sophie Sherwood / Vikki Rutter / Yasuaki Matsumoto / Zara Carpenter
Poster Image: Riya Panwar
Press release:
Tales is the first book by Magda Kuca comprising a decade worth of work concerned with eastern European identity and storytelling, examining the relationship between the supernatural and folklore. By working hands-on with historic photographic processes such as wet collodion, Kuca’s work explores narratives around craft and materiality of photographic medium. Book invites the viewer to slow down and embark on a journey through the author's family history by incorporating portraiture of her grandmother juxtaposed with customs and traditions long forgotten. Hand printed and hand bound by Lee Elkins , Tales stands as a poignant and intimate dialogue with the modern era's relentless surge of visual content, reminiscent of the slow photography movement. Kuca's dedication to traditional methods invites readers to takea step back and reflect on one's own heritage.
BOOK INFO
Publisher: Lost Light Recordings
Foreword: Martin Barnes, senior curator of photography V&A
180x240mm, Limited edition of 100 copies. First 3 copies are special edition
Hardback and hand bound
This one-day 6h workshop is an an introduction to wet plate collodion- a historical process using silver and light to obtain a unique images on the glass plate.
LEVEL
This is a beginner wet plate session.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
1. Health & Safety Information
2. Information on wet-plate darkroom equipment-studio work and field work
3. Preparation of chemistry-glass cleaning agent, cadmium-free salted collodion, silver bath, developer , standard fixer. Note on maturing and shelf-life of chemistry
4. Introduction to large format camera and collodion plate holders.
5. Collodion studio lighting set-up and notes on exposure measuring methods
6. Plate preparation and glass cleaning methods including troubleshooting.
7. Creating wet plate portraits/still life (it will be up to you, you are welcome to bring any objects you would like to use) .
8. Varnishing and various varnish types
9. Troubleshooting tips
WHAT YOU GET
You’ll gain the basic understanding of the process and opportunity to create 2 plates start to finish-using still life or taking self portraits. Keeping groups small-up to 4 participants-allows for more personalised experience.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London, Earls Court.
Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !
This half day workshop will introduce you to the basics of the mordancage process, including bleaching, redevelopment and basic method of producing digital negative for contact printing with silver gelatine paper.
Kirlian Photography is a contact printing technique using high voltage to obtain images on photographic paper or film, capturing the phenomenon of electrical coronal discharges.It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is subjected to a strong electric field, an image is created on the plate.
Kirlian made controversial claims that his method referred to supernatural auras-Kirlian promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings. This claim was said to be supported by experiments by the Kirlians that involved cutting part of a leaf off - the Kirlian images of such leaves, it was said, still showed the leaves as whole, as though the cutting had never happened.
During this 3 h extended session you are welcomed to bring a variety of objects to create multiple contact prints which will be scanned at the end of the session.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London, Earls Court.
Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !
Learn how to approach cyanotype-one of the first photographic printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolor paper, cyanotype paint and light to beautiful botanic blueprints.
This two hours workshop will introduce you to the basics of the cyanotype printmaking-process discovered in 1842-using watercolour paper, cyanotype paint and light to create your own images. This process allows one to create beautiful floral prussian blue prints -join me and learn about its history and chemistry.
LEVEL
This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.
AGENDA
Introduction to history of early photographic printmaking
Chemistry and technology of the process
Creating prints using botanicals in relaxed and friendly atmosphere
Troubleshooting tips
All materials will be provided
WHAT YOU GET
You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you can continue beyond the session, which you will finish with 2-3 prints ready to take home and get framed.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London in Earls Court.
Kirlian Photography is a contact printing technique using high voltage to obtain images on photographic paper or film, capturing the phenomenon of electrical coronal discharges.It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is subjected to a strong electric field, an image is created on the plate.
Kirlian made controversial claims that his method referred to supernatural auras-Kirlian promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings. This claim was said to be supported by experiments by the Kirlians that involved cutting part of a leaf off - the Kirlian images of such leaves, it was said, still showed the leaves as whole, as though the cutting had never happened.
During this 3 h extended session you are welcomed to bring a variety of objects to create multiple contact prints which will be scanned at the end of the session.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT
Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !
Learn how to approach cyanotype-one of the first photographic printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolor paper, cyanotype paint and light to beautiful botanic blueprints.
This two hours workshop will introduce you to the basics of the cyanotype printmaking-process discovered in 1842-using watercolour paper, cyanotype paint and light to create your own images. This process allows one to create beautiful floral prussian blue prints -join me and learn about its history and chemistry.
LEVEL
This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.
AGENDA
Introduction to history of early photographic printmaking
Chemistry and technology of the process
Creating prints using botanicals in relaxed and friendly atmosphere
Troubleshooting tips
All materials will be provided
WHAT YOU GET
You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you can continue beyond the session, which you will finish with 2-3 prints ready to take home and get framed.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT
Join me on 28th October for artist talk at 6 pm
Espacio Gallery
159 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG
Planning to visit? Let me know: kucamagda@gmail.com
Also on 28th October at 5pm: Kirlian Photography workshop
Kirlian Photography is a rare contact printing technique using high voltage to obtain images on photographic paper or film, capturing the phenomenon of electrical coronal discharges.It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is subjected to a strong electric field, an image is created on the plate.
Exhibition Hours
Wed 25th October 12-7pm
Private view: Thu 26th 12-9 pm with PV 6-9pm
Frid 27th 12-9pm
Finissage: Sat 28th 12-9pm, Artist talks 6pm, Kirlian workshop 5 pm
Sunday 29th 11-4pm
By appointment outwith those hours.
This one-day 6h workshop is an an introduction to wet plate collodion- a historical process using silver and light to obtain a unique images on the glass plate.
LEVEL
This is a beginner wet plate session.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
1. Health & Safety Information
2. Information on wet-plate darkroom equipment-studio work and field work
3. Preparation of chemistry-glass cleaning agent, cadmium-free salted collodion, silver bath, developer , standard fixer. Note on maturing and shelf-life of chemistry
4. Introduction to large format camera and collodion plate holders.
5. Collodion studio lighting set-up and notes on exposure measuring methods
6. Plate preparation and glass cleaning methods including troubleshooting.
7. Creating wet plate portraits/still life (it will be up to you, you are welcome to bring any objects you would like to use) .
8. Varnishing and various varnish types
9. Troubleshooting tips
WHAT YOU GET
You’ll gain the basic understanding of the process and opportunity to create 2 plates start to finish-using still life or taking self portraits. Keeping groups small-up to 4 participants-allows for more personalised experience.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT
Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !
Learn to create prints right from your garden using leaves, spinach,turmeric and explore one of the earliest photographic processes.
This short but compact workshop will introduce you to a very unique anthotype printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolour paper and crushed flower petals or plant juices like turmeric or spinach to create botanical images and prints from digital photographs. I will teach you how to prepare your own emulsion- after the workshop you will be able to take home and use the skills you have learned here to create your own work. I will also show you how to make anthotype print using digital photograph (you can see a sample photograph on the video here)
LEVEL
This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.
AGENDA
Introduction to history of early colour processes
Chemistry and technology of the process
Preparation of dyes with pestle&mortar using plant material, in relaxed and friendly atmosphere
Creating digital film for printing
Introduction to printing on leaves & selecting appropriate plants for the process
Troubleshooting tips and directions for finishing prints at home
WHAT YOU GET
You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you will need to continue beyond the session( due to the nature of the process, you will need to continue exposing your prints after taking them home-all materials needed will be provided)
All participants have to submit one digital photograph ( this can be taken with phone or camera) ahead of time, preferably A5 in 300 dpi to kucamagda@gmail.com
LOCATION
Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT
Join me and other artists at Empress Studios in Earl's Court, West London for a weekend of getting insights into our practice and creative process including wet collodion or platinum printing. Get your questions answered as well as view available work from previous projects and upcoming bodies of work in progress.
Learn how to approach cyanotype-one of the first photographic printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolor paper, cyanotype paint and light to beautiful botanic blueprints.
This two hours workshop will introduce you to the basics of the cyanotype printmaking-process discovered in 1842-using watercolour paper, cyanotype paint and light to create your own images. This process allows one to create beautiful floral prussian blue prints -join me and learn about its history and chemistry.
LEVEL
This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.
AGENDA
Introduction to history of early photographic printmaking
Chemistry and technology of the process
Creating prints using botanicals in relaxed and friendly atmosphere
Troubleshooting tips
All materials will be provided
WHAT YOU GET
You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you can continue beyond the session, which you will finish with 2-3 prints ready to take home and get framed.
LOCATION
Workshops will take place at a partner venue in Travel Cafe ( Islington)
