Research

St. Malo, a beautiful and historic city in Brittany, France. It’s located right on the English Channel, and it’s known for its stunning beaches, charming architecture, and rich history. Some of the top attractions in St. Malo include the walled city, the St. Malo Cathedral, and the Fort National. The walled city is the most famous part of St. Malo, and it’s a great place to explore on foot. You can walk along the ramparts, visit the castle, and see the beautiful views of the sea. The St. Malo Cathedral is another must-see attraction in the city. It’s a stunning Gothic cathedral that was built in the 12th century, and it’s one of the most beautiful churches in France. Finally, the Fort National is a historic fort that was built in the 17th century to defend the city from the English. It’s a great place to learn about the history of St. Malo and the region.

In addition to these historic attractions, St. Malo is also known for its beautiful beaches. The Plage du Sillon is the most famous beach in the city, and it’s a great place to relax and soak up the sun. The beach is also a popular spot for water sports like surfing and windsurfing. Another great beach in St. Malo is the Plage de Bon Secours, which is located just outside the walled city. This beach is a bit quieter than the Plage du Sillon, and it’s a great place to go if you want to avoid the crowds.

St. Malo is also known for its delicious food. The region is famous for its seafood, and you’ll find plenty of great seafood restaurants in the city. Some of the top dishes to try in St. Malo include moules marinières (mussels in white wine), coquilles St. Jacques (scallops), and galettes (savory crepes).Overall, St. Malo is a beautiful and historic city that’s definitely worth a visit. Whether you’re interested in history, beaches, or food, there’s something for everyone in this charming French city.

Mood board

Nostalgia – is a sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. 

Nostalgia is a word that comes from Greek and means a sentimental yearning for the past. It can evoke feelings of pleasure with occasional notes of sadness. Nostalgia can be triggered by many things, such as music, movies, places, or people. Nostalgia can have positive effects on mood, social connectedness, self-esteem, and meaning in life.

Mood Board

A FORT REGENT INSPIRED ART EXHIBITION RECREATING THE STRANGE HOLD CHILDHOOD SPACES HAVE ON ADULT MEMORIES

Nostalgia is a word that comes from Greek and means a sentimental yearning for the past. It can evoke feelings of pleasure with occasional notes of sadness. Nostalgia can be triggered by many things, such as music, movies, places, or people. Nostalgia can have positive effects on mood, social connectedness, self-esteem, and meaning in life. This exhibition displays Will’s experience with Nostalgia, recreating his childhood memories and reigniting his past intense attachment to the Fort through the use of an (AI) Artificial Intelligence tool. The unusual composition of the images seen throughout the exhibition are often similar to those seen in dreams or hallucinations allowing viewer’s past memories relating to Will’s exhibition to resurface. Will’s lifetime with autism enables him to create a unique unseen response to the theme of Nostalgia stemming from his obsession with swimming pools, fun fairs and leisure centres.

The images consist of differing childhood activities, the sounds, smells and feelings present have been incorporated into Will’s exhibition allowing viewers a realistic experience of the past Fort Regent. The construction of the image through AI has also added to the dreamy feel of Will’s childhood allowing him to present his memories as best as he can.

I thoroughly enjoyed Will’s exhibition as the images and experience effectively created a sense of Nostalgia from my childhood as I’m sure it did to others. Although Will’s use of AI may be controversial to some as a man widely seen as the godfather of artificial intelligence (AI) quit his job, warning about the growing dangers from developments in the field.

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer who is considered to be one of the fathers of photojournalism and masters of candid photography. He sought to capture the ‘everyday’ in his photographs and took great interest in recording human activity.  He pioneered the genre of street photography, and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment, which he later wrote a book about. He was influenced by Surrealism and began his career in film working with renowned French director, Jean Renoir as second assistant director. He was born on the 22nd of August, 1908 In Chanteloup-en-Brie, France and passed away on the 3rd of August, 2004 in Céreste, France.

He came from quite a wealthy family and since his parents were providing financial support, Henri pursued photography quite freely. His father assumed that his son would take up the family business, but Henri was strong-willed and also feared the idea.  In 1929, Cartier-Bresson’s air squadron commandant placed him under house arrest for hunting without a licence. Cartier-Bresson met American expatriate Harry Crosby, who persuaded the commandant to release Cartier-Bresson into his custody for a few days. The two men both had an interest in photography, and Crosby presented him with his first camera.

Cartier-Bresson ended up falling into an intense sexual relationship with Caresse Crosby (Harry Crosby’s wife) however, two years after Harry Crosby died by suicide, Cartier-Bresson’s affair with Caresse Crosby ended in 1931. After reading the book, Heart of Darkness, which gave him the idea to try and find adventure in Côte d’Ivoire, Africa. He survived by shooting game and selling it to local villagers. From hunting, he learned methods which he later used in photography.

He acquired the Leica camera with a 50 mm lens in Marseilles that would accompany him for many years. The anonymity that the small camera gave him in a crowd or during an intimate moment was essential in overcoming the formal and unnatural behaviour of those who were aware of being photographed. He enhanced his anonymity by painting all shiny parts of the Leica with black paint. In the beginning, he did not photograph much in his native France. It would be years before he photographed there extensively. Cartier-Bresson’s first photojournalist photos to be published came in 1937 when he covered the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. 

“For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. In order to ‘give a meaning’ to the world, one has to feel involved in what one frames through the viewfinder. This attitude requires concentration, discipline of mind, sensitivity, and a sense of geometry. It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression.”

The Decisive Moment

The Decisive Moment is a book by Henri Cartier-Bresson, a French photographer who is credited with pioneering modern photojournalism. The book is a collection of his best-known photographs, accompanied by his thoughts on photography and the creative process. The title refers to the idea that photography captures a single moment in time, and that the photographer’s job is to be in the right place at the right time to capture that moment. Cartier-Bresson believed that the best photographs were those that were taken spontaneously, without any preconceived ideas or planning. He called this the “decisive moment,” and believed that it was the key to creating truly great photographs.

Gallery made with – artsteps | Make your own VR Exhibitions

My images were inspired by two photographers, Doug Dubois and Simon Wheatley, as seen in my Final Prints

Photoshoot 1

Where – Car Parks/Estates in Town

When – Afternoon/evening

What – A series of images inspired by Simon Wheatley’s representation of masculinity in youth culture

How – Aperture Priority/Portrait Setting

Why – To respond to the set theme

Photoshoot 2

Where – Differing locations around St Brelades

When – Afternoon/evening

What – A series of images inspired by Doug Dubois’s representation of masculinity in youth culture

How – Aperture Priority/Portrait Setting

Why – To respond to the set theme

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