London born photographer Jonny Briggs adopts a dynamic approach to his work so as his work may all have a similar yet deep underlying meaning, the productions are all very unique and different from one another. Briggs hosted a presentation for us to experience and enjoy all his work, which he bases on his family ordeals, particularly how he lived in his sister’s overriding shadows as well as focusing on his struggling relationship with this father. Not only was the delivery of the presentation interesting throughout but the content within the presentation was very peculiar yet meaningful.

Although Briggs is a photographer, he revealed his bad experiences of photographs led him to photography, because as a child his family would create this facade and ignore the problems within their life in order to portray a healthy family circle.

“In search of lost parts of my childhood I try to think outside the reality I was socialised into and create new ones with my parents and self.”

I was particularly interested in Briggs’s fascination with opposites, for example ‘desires’ and ‘disgust’, giving this sense of bathos. Throughout his work, Briggs defies the expectations of photography as he incorporates the unthinkable to his work, relating to his cry for attention following his loss of some areas in his childhood.

Linking to our given theme, Briggs uses family and the environment to express his emotion through photography. For example, this image deemed “Reclamation, 2011” displays Briggs posing for a picture with his father (right). Briggs is wearing an enlarged wooden mask of his father’s head, however, the internal mould of the mask fits Jonny’s face but pushes his cheeks into a forced, reflecting the family photos he used to dread. An alternative point to note is the close proximity of Briggs junior and Briggs senior as the pair struggled to form a solid bond in Jonny’s younger years, so perhaps their affection is a an appeasement for what Jonny had missed out upon as a youngster.

During the presentation, the question of the relevance of the forrest based scenery was asked and Briggs responded that when he was younger, he developed his imagination by using the forest as a setting for applying his infatuation with Disney movies and how they often allow him to divert from the troubles of his childhood. It’s interesting that Briggs found comfort within a specific environment and believed the significance of the scene was enough to set his photograph there.

What are archives?

“a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.”

“place or store (something) in an archive.”

Société Jersiaise is a Jersey organisation who look to preserve and protect local archaeology, history, natural history, the ancient language and the conservation of the environment.

The organisation is purely funded by memberships and donations which enables the building to function and still provide the people of the public domain as well as keen artists the opportunity to discover a rural and much forgotten Jersey. From photographers to parishes,  Société Jersiaise enables you to search the archives whether it be for work or recreational purposes.

The Photographic Archive of the Société Jersiaise contains over 80,000 images dating from the mid-1840s to the present day and is the principal Jersey collection of nineteenth and early twentieth century photography – http://societe-jersiaise.org/photographic-archivehttp://societe-jersiaise.org/photographic-archive.

Before we had the opportunity to visit the unique site, I was unaware the organisation existed so we’re very lucky to have rare images so accessible to us. Especially for my upcoming search into the property I live in in Saint Brelades.

There are also other sites with similar functions in Jersey, for example the Jersey Archive on Clarence Road withhold over 300,000 forms of archive, however, they’re not all photography based. The most popular reason to as why the public visit the site is to learn more about their family.

https://www.jerseyheritage.org/places-to-visit/jersey-archive

Local archives preserve the history of the island, whether its family based or for research. Admission is free which gives everybody the opportunity to gain information on local matters.

Tanja Deman is a contemporary photographer from Croatia and is currently based in the small English island of Jersey. She has developed a very specific photographic theme due to following her interests in space, physical and emotional connection to a place and her relationship to nature. Observing recently built legacy or natural sites her work investigates the sociology of space and reflects dynamics hidden under the surface of both the built and natural environment. As well as being a cutting edge photographer, Deman also incorporates collage, video and public art, demonstrating her versatility not only as a photographer but an artist in general.

Deman is clearly a success in and out of Jersey as she has won numerous awards, including the 2017. Archisle International Photography Award, Jersey, UK.  – http://www.tanja-deman.com/ABOUT

Fortunately for the photography students at Hautlieu school, we’ve been able to attend a workshop at  Société Jersiaise, an organisation created in 1873 for the study of Jersey archaeology, history, natural history, the ancient language and the conservation of the environment. During Deman’s workshop we gained knowledge onto how to function the local archives which are preserved by the organisation. The experience was quite shocking as we discovered a rather rural Jersey, particularly Saint Helier. Deman also presented her images that she had taken of the Western coast of Jersey as well as Sark. The images were generally of the distinctive Channel Island rock that shelters our islands but also included unique photos of rocks underwater.  This collection of images contributes to her ‘Saltwater’ series – http://www.tanja-deman.com/WORKS/Saltwater

The experience did not only provide an element of nostalgia as our recluse island has become too modernized but it was also very interesting to study Deman’s individual and alternative approach to following her interests through art and photography.