Thursday night saw the opening preview of ‘Camera-less,’ a display by Emma Benyon in association with Supercollider, The Lucky Jotter and FYC.
The intriguing images, a series of white feathers exposed on blue watercolour photographic paper have been created with a ‘sun-print’ process to exactly replicate the original object. Emma uses ‘found’ objects, specifically feathers, which are then displayed at exactly their original size due to the intimate relationship between the subject and her chosen medium. The stark white shadows upon the blue, heavily textured paper are quietly dramatic, softened by the imperfections of each individual feather.
There is a natural, unstructured beauty emphasised by the torn edges of the photographic paper presented in the white-cube space, which gives the collection a very organic and aesthetic appeal.
I caught up with Emma for a chat about her display:
First of all, how does it feel to have your first show?
“Well I’m excited, but very nervous!”
What made you decide to work with with nature and to use the ‘sun-print’ technique?
“I had created a few images in my work entitled ‘Memoirs of Nature,’ the first final project on my Degree. [Emma graduated from B&FC with a BA(hons) in Wildlife and Environmental Photography in 2012.] What interested me most was how the images could be used to show the truth in nature and photography. Each of the ‘found’ objects are directly represented showing the truth in their size and shape, and you can see which animal it has come from. As for my interest with nature, I think it started with my Dad who always used to bring animals home.”
So, what happens next?
“Well, I graduated from my PGCE course this morning so today’s been very hectic and exciting. I am interested in working with the ‘sun-print’ process some more, maybe with different objects, flowers perhaps.
I’ve been also been working on what is currently my longest project to date entitled ‘Captive.‘ It is a series of images shot in black and white showing animals in their regular zoo enclosures. There are some images on my website [www.emmabenyonphotography.co.uk] but I’m planning on touring some other zoos over the summer.
Some of the images I’ve taken have had peoples’ reflections in them, which I think is something I would like to explore next. I have a few images, but nothing I’m ready to release just yet.”
Emma’s work is certainly something to keep an eye out for. From what I saw at the gallery and some other pieces showcased on her website, she has a real eye for creating art out of the truth in nature. The show is publicly available to view at FYC from tomorrow and will be available until 31 July 2013.
However, I can’t finish without mentioning the organiser’s who contributed to the evening’s success. The exhibit is part of the collaboration between a trinity of art groups that promise grand designs for the future. FYCreatives, working in partnership with locally based arts organisations Supercollider Contemproary Art projects and The Lucky Jotter are delivering a more collaboratively driven programme of arts exhibitions and events to the Church Street Gallery. Their aim is to create a space for new and emerging talent to be able to display work in a professionally independent manner. The coordinators, Garth Gratrix, Tom Ireland and Joseph Pegler, are all professionally skilled in their respective artistic fields and apply their individual talents to ensure the success of the project. I look forward to hearing more about what these guys get up to!
Artist Image courtesy of Emma Benyon
Gallery Image courtesy of Joseph Pegler (The Lucky Jotter)
