Precious Metals
Online Seminar
29 July 1-5pm (UK time)

On Friday 29 July, I will present an online seminar which broadly considers the use of precious metals in astronomy, photography, jewellery, and engineering. The seminar discusses a range of issues surrounding extractivism and colonialism, relating to the current unsustainable uses of silver, palladium, and other heavy metals. This seminar is part of my “Precious Metals” exhibition at Photofusion and is supported by Arts Council England. Booking Link Here

Alice Cazenave will discuss her doctoral research and practice, looking at neo-colonial resource extraction. 

Dr Leah-Nani Alconcel will discuss her experience with metallurgy as a spacecraft engineer, and lecturer in metallurgy.

Dr Ignacio Acosta will speak about his “Copper Geographies” project, and his collaborative project “Traces of Nitrate”.

Artist Runo Lagomarsino will discuss his project “La place entre les murs”, a series of photographs and silver sculpture which has been made from silver extracted from fixative.

Artist and Jewellery designer Charlotte E Padgham will discuss her jewellery created using 100% recycled Sterling silver and discarded silver from photographic fixer. 

Artist Oliver Raymond Barker will discuss his recent residency at the Exeter Sustainability Institute, looking at sustainable uses of silver within photographic practice. 

Astronomer Dr Camilla Hansen will discuss her astronomical research, which demonstrates how precious metals such as silver and palladium can only be formed in high energy stellar events, such as supernova explosions.

Finally, I will discuss the work produced as part of my “Precious Metals” project. The exhibition at Photofusion, Brixton continues until Saturday 30 July at 5pm.

Precious Metals
Photofusion
Feature In FT Mag

In early July, my solo exhibition “Precious Metals” was featured in the Financial Times magazine. Thanks to Emma Bowkett and Josh Lustig for the feature. The feature can be seen in the above image.

Precious Metals.
Lomography Feature

In mid July, my solo exhibition “Precious Metals” was featured in Lomography Magazine.
You can read the article here.

re:source

In recent months, I have reclaimed silver from photographic fixer to create jewellery with Dr Leah-Nani Alconcel at the University of Birmingham. My latest methods have been published in “re:source”, a new publication by The Sustainable Darkroom and the London Alternative Photography Collective. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

198 page
Soft riso printed cover
Sewn Section binding
Printed by Martin the Printers
Binding and cover by Folium

re·source is the third publication from the Sustainable Darkroom. Featuring nearly 200 pages of essays, recipes, experiments, images, and research from our network of practitioners worldwide, re:source is our largest publication yet - and the most extensive collection of writing on sustainable photographic practice to date.

re·source unpicks the colonial and social entanglements between materials as resources, embodies the notion of being resourceful, considers the relationship between resources as a source of wealth or revenue and acts as a resource in and of itself; providing valuable information to those wanting to learn about ecologically-conscious photography.

The materials and printing processes for this publication have been selected first and foremost for their environmental credentials. Printed by Martins The Printers. Binding and cover by Folium.

Contributors: Alice Campos, Alice Cazenave, Amber Lee Williams, Ana Carrizo, Andrés Pardo / General Treegan, Charlotte Padgham, Claire Grant, Dagie Brundert, Edd Carr, Eileen White, Hannah Fletcher, Helena Doyle, James Sewell, Jenny Jacklin, Jo Bradford, Joanna Mayes, Johanna Rotko, John Blythe, Julia Parks, Karel Doing, Kimberly Sophie Halyburton Fuster, Lewis Heriz, Marie Smith, Marina Vitaglione, Marjolaine Ryley, Martha Cattell, Megan Ringrose, Meggan Gould, Melanie King, Michaela Davidova, Molly Caenwyn, Myka Baum, Noora Sandgren, Oliver Raymond-Barker, Peter Maarseveen, Ricardo Leite, Risk Hazekamp, Rosalba Breazaele, Steffie de Gaetano, Sofia Pires, Svea Josephy, Valentina Carnali, Vanessa Cowling.

Reimagining Joya
Exhibition at Thameside Studios

Thames-Side Studios Gallery
Unit 4 Warspite Road
London
SE18 5NR
26 August - 11 September

In April 2019, I attended a residency at Joya Arte and Ecologica in Spain. I will be exhibiting alongside other Joya artists in the “Reimagining Joya” exhibition. I will be showing green tea toned cyanotypes of my “Ancient Light” photographs, which were produced under the dark night skies of Andalucia.

“Reimagining Joya is an exhibition inspired by the experiences and artistic responses of a group of artists who have all participated in Joya: Art + Ecology / AiR residency. Joya is a multi disciplinary arts residency, which offers a place to develop creativity in the natural environment of Andalucía in Spain. The curators, Olga Suchanova, Tere Chad and Barbara Slavikova, have selected a body of works which explore the way we inhabit, survey, feel, and relate to the natural landscape and its living creatures. The exhibition will take place at Thames-side Studios Gallery (Unit 4 Harrington Way, Warspite Rd, London, SE18 5NR) between the 26th August – 11th September 2022. During the period of the exhibition artists will be hosting a series of workshops and public events.”

Free exhibition tickets here.

Glacial Movements and the Ghaib
Lumen Studios, Pak Khawateen Painting Club
British Council

Pak Khawateen Painting Club and Lumen Studios (Lumen) are happy to announce a new collaborative project - Glacial Movements and the Ghaib - launching today as part of the British Council Pakistan-UK New Perspectives 2022 programme. The project was selected through an open call that awarded four grants to proposals co-developed between Pakistan and UK partners that offer opportunities for cross-cultural creative practices, knowledge exchange and new artistic work. 

Pak Khawateen Painting Club and Lumen will together develop new experimental art works based upon shared research activities and an expedition to the Gilgit Baltistan region. There they will work with indigenous communities and local experts to recognise the severe impact climate change has and will continue to have on indigenous people whilst considering themes of sustainable tourism and migration. The project builds upon Pak Khawateen Painting Club’s previous expeditions on the River Indus, supported by the Lahore Biennale 2020, Graham Foundation and Sharjah Art Foundation 2023. The two groups will exhibit artworks informed by the project in a series of exhibitions in Pakistan and the UK in late 2022.

Pakistan-UK New Perspectives 2022 programme has been launched to celebrate Pakistan’s 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022. The programme features projects addressing shared global challenges including but not limited to digital innovation, environmental sustainability, gender equality, diversity and inclusion principles, and empowering young leaders of the future.

Find out more: britishcouncil.pk/new-perspectives

Support Me

Here are a number of ways to support my work:

- Patreon 
- Ko-Fi 
- Visit my store
- Buy a limited edition print from Photofusion, as part of my “Precious Metals” exhibition.
- Visit the Land Art Collective shop to purchase artworks.
- Visit the Argentea Gallery website to purchase artworks.

Patreon subscribers receive a monthly postcard, digital download and educational video content. In August, Patreon subscribers will receive a postcard reproduction of my “Butterfly Nebula” palladium-platinum print. The postcard is created using recycled cardboard.