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Experimentation, Independent Study, Research and analysis

Societe Jersiaise Visit

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On the Tuesday 13th of June 2017 I visited the Societe Jeriaise archive presented by Karen Biddlecombe and 2 other photographers: Jonny Briggs and Tanja Damen who both base their work on Dadaism, Surrealism, Fine Art, Documentary and Narrative photography, and archival imagery both cross referencing psychology, psycho-analysis and philosophy too.  Both photographers were very different in terms of the styles, methods and techniques adopted in their work.

I very much enjoyed the day, learning about the purpose and concepts of archives and how we can compare and contrast the idealized images of then and now.  What I particularly found interesting was at what life was like back in the 19th/20th centuries and how it documented a realistic picture of life back then.  Reinforcing this is how the unique preservation methods of these photos are used as they would of in those times giving us a sense of perspective of not just the value but more so the adoption of historical techniques in today’s world.  Back then it seemed that many photographers incorporated a sense of realism in their work, contrasting with many of today’s work which takes a more varied approach. I liked how these images were so well preserved through a variety of methods that are unique to each photograph.

The Archive contains over 80 000 images all from when it started in 1840.  Among these images from the decades it paints a picture of how the photographic interpretation of the island has evolved over the years, and I can put this within a wider context knowing that myself I can compare my work to older generations work.

What particularly struck me was the historical photographic methods used in processing these images.  The first method was known as daguerreotype and most commonly used but was very expensive.  A much cheaper alternative method was albumen from egg whites and was the first commercial method of producing a photograph.  Later in 1854 the carte de visite became a populer use of albumen, rising in popularity in Paris and America.

After Tanja’s talk, she wanted us to explore eye soar buildings that stood out to us in town.  Here we were starting to develop our own relationships with the environment, shooting and presenting it in a way that shows our feelings towards these ugly buildings.

With Jonny, under the idea of emotions on quite an intimate and personnel level, we made sort of adaptions of the same photographs from the occupation that we did using hand techniques.  This included scratches, tears, folds etc.

 

Independent Study, Instruction, Planner & Tracking, Research and analysis

Family and Environment // Tanja Deman // Jonny Briggs

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Tanja Deman (Croatia)and Jonny Briggs (London) are contemporary, cutting edge artists that use photographic techniques as a vehicle to explore the themes of Family and Environment.

They operate and think in different ways…but there are similarities in the way they construct their outcomes, and have their roots in Dadaism, Surrealism and at times Fine Art, Documentary and Narrative photography. They also use archival imagery as an integral part of their practice, and cross reference psychology, psycho-analysis and philosophy too.

We will spend time exploring the background, history and theory of these approaches and creating imagery, film and more that embraces the methods of composite imagery, photo-collage and cut-n-paste.

Jonny Briggs

Jonny Briggs | Artist statement

“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.

Through these I use photography to explore my relationship with deception, the constructed reality of the family, and question the boundaries between my parents and I, between child/adult, self/other, nature/culture, real/fake in attempt to revive my unconditioned self, beyond the family bubble.

Although easily assumed to be photo-shopped or faked, upon closer inspection the images are often realised to be more real than first expected. Involving staged installations, the cartoon-esque and the performative, I look back to my younger self and attempt to re-capture childhood nature through my assuming adult eyes.”

Tanja Deman

Tanja Deman | Artist statement

Tanja Deman’s art is inspired by her interest in the perception of space, physical and emotional connection to a place and her relationship to nature.

Tanja’s works, incorporating photography, collage, video and public art, are evocative meditations on urban space and landscape.

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.

https://vimeo.com/20713908

You must look at and follow Jonny (link here) and Tanja’s (link here) websites and social media outlets…

Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – Pinterest

LINK TO ARCHISLE FACEBOOK PAGE / JONNY BRIGGS INTERVIEWS

https://www.facebook.com/ArchisleJersey/

You can also use these links to explore the concept and theme of Family and Environment as tackled by previous students…

https://hautlieucreative.co.uk/photo17a2e/

https://hautlieucreative.co.uk/photo17a2/

TASK 1 Intro Blog Post

Create a blog post that reviews your experience of the day at Societe Jersiaise on Tuesday 13th June 2017.

  • what did you see, understand and learn?
  • what were the main talking points?
  • include your images and experiments from the tasks, and outline the process and intentions
  • Karen Biddlecombe / Gareth Syvret (Chief Archivist)Communications Assistant (part-time Mon, Weds, Thurs)Archisle: Jersey Contemporary Photography Programme
    Société Jersiaise
    7 Pier Road
    St Helier
    Jersey
    JE2 4XW

Task 2 Create an extended blog post that shows a detailed description, analysis and interpretation of Jonny Brigg‘s work.

Aim to focus on 1 key example of his work and use FORMAL ANALYSIS techniques as a starting point only.

think about and discuss the content, concept, context, construction, composition,  camera, then compare, contrast and critique

ask yourself ( and Jonny) what ? / why? / how?

You must define the process and include examples of Jonny’s presentation devices eg publications and exhibitions and show clearly how Jonny is influenced and and inspired by at least 2 of these artists…

John Stezaker Tony Oursler Urs Fiscer Greta Alfaro
Cat Roissetter Alma Kaser Gillian Wearing Rene Magriette
Mike Keller Richard Billingham Noemie Goudal Paul Nouge
Gregor Schnieder Julie Cockburn Sarah Jones George Condo
Annette Messager Gabriella Boyd Thomas Demand Gordon Matta Clark
Joana Piotronska Kate Lyddon Henry Darger  
Cindy Sherman Louise Bourgeoise Francis Bacon  

Remember to MAKE YOUR BLOG POST VISUAL

include relevant links, podcasts, videos where possible

Task 3 Create an extended blog post that shows a detailed description, analysis and interpretation of Tanja Deman‘s work.

Aim to focus on 1 key example of her work and use FORMAL ANALYSIS techniques as a starting point only.

think about and discuss the content, concept, context, construction, composition,  camera, then compare, contrast and critique

ask yourself ( and Tanja) what ? / why? / how?

You must define the process and include examples of Tanja’s presentation devices eg publications and exhibitions and show clearly how Tanja is influenced and and inspired by at least 2 of the following artists…

Robert Adams // David GoldBlatt // Thomas Struth // Super Studio // Luigi Ghirri // Richard Misrach // Werner Herzog // Richard Long // Raymond Meeks // Antonioni // Alain Resnais // Katrin Koenning // Andrei Tarkovsky

Remember to MAKE YOUR BLOG POST VISUAL

include relevant links, podcasts, videos

YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING TASKS READY BY TUESDAY 20TH JUNE

  1. 5 x images of your own (DIGITAL): showing what aesthetics most interest them (all placed in 1 folder named
    ” MY IMAGES”, pictures named 1-5)
  2. 5 x  images from the SJ archive (DIGITAL): in relation to the shooting location on Tuesday, Jersey cliffs, bunkers,
    race tracks (all placed in 1 folder name 2. ARCHIVE IMAGES, pictures named 1-5)
  3. Research on artists references (images placed in 1 folder named 3 ARTISTS REFERENCES, pictures named with the artist’s name)

For an easier work flow in regards to the number of students each student should have a folder on their desktop
called ‘Photo collage workshop 20-27.6.’, with sub-folders inside named:
‘1. MY IMAGES’ (it should contain 5 images)
‘2. ARCHIVE IMAGES’ (it should contain 5 images)
‘3. ARTISTS REFERENCES’ (it should contain 5 images)
‘4. RAW PHOTOS’ (empty)
‘5. NEW WORK’ (empty)

Deadline for Completion

MONDAY 19TH JUNE

Extension Task 1

Research and define the following terms in photography to show an understanding of the influences, concept, history and theory in contemporary photography. Include key examples and try to show how they may have influenced Jonny and Tanja in some way.

Dadaism

Surrealism

Documentary and Narrative photography (visual storytelling)

Fine Art Photography

Extension Task 2

 

Tanja is clearly inspired and informed by her prior studies in architecture, natural forms, structures and sculpture.

During her SJ presentation she referred to

  • Brutalist architecture
  • Modernist architecture

Research, describe and explain what these forms of art are including how they came to prominence, where they can be found and what their legacy / influence is.

Where is there evidence of modernism / brutalism in Jersey?

Remember to include images, hyperlinks, videos etc

Independent Study, Research and analysis

Independent Study: PUBLIC/PRIVATE ARCHIVES

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What Are Archives?

In the course of daily life, individuals and organizations create and keep information about their personal and business activities. Archivists identify and preserve these documents of lasting value.

These records — and the places they are kept — are called “archives.” Archival records take many forms, including correspondence, diaries, financial and legal documents, photographs, and moving image and sound recordings. All state governments as well as many local governments, schools, businesses, libraries, and historical societies, maintain archives.

archives-016

Using the Photographic Archive as a Resource for Research and Ideas

For your Personal Investigation you have to engage with a notion of an archive. Archives can  be a rich source for finding starting points on your creative journey. This will strengthen your research and lead towards discoveries about the past that will inform the way you interpret the present and anticipate the future.

Public archives in Jersey

Jersey Archives:  Since 1993 Jersey Archive has collected over 300,000 archival records and it is the island’s national repository holding archival material from public institutions as well as private businesses and individuals. To visit click here

Jersey Archive can offer guidance, information and documents that relate to all aspects of the Island’s History. It also holds the collections of the Channel Islands Family History Society.

Societe Jersiaise: Photographic archive of 80,000 images dating from the mid-1840s to the present day. 35,000 historical images in the Photographic Archive are searchable online here.

Societe Jersiaise also have an extensive library with access to may publications and records relating to the island’s history, identity and geography. Click here

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Archisle: The Jersey Contemporary Photography Programme, hosted by the Société Jersiaise aims to promote contemporary photography through an ongoing programme of exhibitions, education and commissions.

The Archisle project connects photographic archives, contemporary practice and experiences of island cultures and geographies through the development of a space for creative discourse between Jersey and international practitioners.

Link: http://www.archisle.org.je/

Private archives: Family photo-albums, objects, letters, birth-certificates, legal documents etc.

7151127821_271a21418a_b

Digital images stored on mobile phones, uploaded on social media etc.

Pictures appear on the smartphone photo sharing application Instagram on April 10, 2012 in Paris, one day after Facebook announced a billion-dollar-deal to buy the startup behind Instagram. The free mini-program lets people give classic looks to square photos using "filters" and then share them at Twitter, Facebook or other social networks. AFP PHOTO THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/GettyImages)

Tasks for Summer Term

1. Introduction to the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive Tue 13 June.

2. Research at least two photographers from the list below in the photo-archive and choose one photograph that illustrates the themes of Family or Environment from each.

Dunham, Percy
Smith, Albert
Guiton, Emile F
Foot, Francis
William Collie
Laurens, Phillip Morel
Ouless, Clarence P
De Faye, Francis George
Dale, Edwin
Baudoux, Ernest
Martin Wyness
Charles Hugo
Claude Cahun
Martin Parr (Liberation)
Michelle Sank (Insula)
Yury Toroptsov (Fairyland)
Tom Pope ( I am not Tom Pope, You are all Tom Pope)
Martin Toft (Atlantus, Masterplan)

3. Analyse each image in detail using this method.

Read through this Powerpoint how to analyse a photograph + photographic theory for more help and guidance. Or use Photo Literacy as a method of analysis

4. Write a 1000 word essay and answer this question: Whose Archive is it Anyway?

To answer this question you need to reflect on Photo-Archive’ talk, read the text by theorist David Bate: Archives, Networks and Narratives and watch the Youtube clip below and consider the following sub-questions:

How do archives function?
What are their purpose?
How do archives act as repositories of cultural memories of the past?
In what way does photography perform a double role within archives?
Reference some of the artists and photographers mentioned in the David Bate’s text and use as examples.
Imagine how you will look in your archive of adulthood and what type/style of pictures you want them to be?
How will looking at archival material enrich your personal study?
In what way has looking at archives been a resourceful exercise?
What have you learned?

archives-networks-and-narratives_low-res

Read the text, make notes and reference it by incorporating quotes to widen different perspectives. Comment on quotes used to construct an argument that either support or disapprove your own point of view.

Extra research/ reading:
Dr Gil Pasternak, Senior Research Fellow in the Photographic History Research Centre (De Montfort University, Leicester), will be part of a BBC documentary film exploring what family photographs say about Britain’s post-war social history.

Watch this Youtube clip where Dr Kelly Wilder, Director of Photographic History Research Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester delivers an academic paper,  ‘The View from Everywhere: Objectivity and the Photographic Archive’ at a symposium on Photographic Archives at the Getty Centre in Los Angeles where she talks about the notion of objectivity when it comes to the use of photographic images. Here is a  Review of symposium on Photo_Archives and Objectivity

Here is an essay example from previous A2 student, Rosanna Armstrong

Deadline: Publish blog posts by Mon 3 July

EXTENSION TASKS – SUMMER BREAK
Choose at least one option

5. Explore your own family/ personal archives over the Summer and make a blog post with some of the material and describe how it will inform and develop your Personal Investigation.  Ask parents, grand-parents and other family members to look through photo-albums, letters, boxes etc.

6. Plan at least one photo-shoot and make a set of images that respond to your research above and/ or Personal Investigation.