Whispers from an Ancient World
My MA Final Project is finished! Whispers of the Ancient World, has only just begun…
Whispers from an Ancient World, by Sullaman. © T. S. Clark (2023)
As I develop my technique, I plan to find more spectacular ancient trees, and experiment with photographing them in new ways. This is my attempt at the EcoGothic, embracing the sublime, to suggest that they have character and something greater to them than being ‘just’ a tree, and demand a sense of awe when in their company. Each is an individual, and I have a story tell about each one too. Unfortunately all I know is a mere fragment of their existence, and it is unfathomable to me to fully know what their experience of the world must be like. I will tell the story of my experience with each of them individually, over the coming weeks, and bring in new ones to the fold. The MA Photography course has been hugely instrumental in helping me find this direction, and elevate my work. I cannot thank or recommend them enough!
For now, this is where the university part of this project ends, but this only marks the beginning of where it will go. The prints are ready, and the exhibition is next to prepare for. Much more will be added to this site soon, including high quality limited edition prints, and new social media channels.
Watch this space!
Looking for inspiration: Part 3
Inventive photographic processes at an exhibition about Neo-Pictorialism at the RPS in Bristol, gave me some ideas…
“Neo-Pictorialism has an emphasis on the aesthetic and embraces the other-worldly. It is a direct and positive reaction to the digital age and new technologies. Photoshop, scanners and printers all greatly assist in the creation of the digital negative, enabling twenty-first century photographers and artists to make traditional photographic prints using historic process and technique.”
Squaring the Circles of Confusion, curated by Zelda Cheatle, at RPS House, Bristol. 2022
In this exhibition I discovered two photographers, David George who took some atmospheric night shots in natural surroundings, which of course I was drawn to, and Susan Derges, whose work was presented beautifully and unusually, and combined natural elements in a way that held the gaze. Ideally I’d like to present my work in a stylish way too, so it gave me some ideas about exhibiting my work. But first I’d have to complete it.
Looking for inspiration: Part 1
In The Black Fantastic was a stunning exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in 2022!
While I was on a short trip to London, I visited In The Black Fantastic at the Haywood Gallery, as the retelling of mythology in fantasy, and science fiction visions from the perspective of the contemporary African diaspora held strong appeal to get ideas for my own retelling of mythology, as well as to marvel at the colourful and inventive exhibits.
Enjoying many of the different takes on show, this is just a small selection of my snap happy captures, the work of Sedrick Chisom with his retelling of mythology and the legacy of racism stopped me in my tracks. And even more powerfully the art of Ellen Gallagher, colourful and stunning depictions of some of the most heart-rendering horrors of the Transatlantic slave trade intertwined with the undersea natural world.