Having reviewed Emilia’s previous Tea Amantes exhibition, David Simper was keen to follow up and see her latest work. The show did not disappoint. These dream-like multiple-exposure photographs focus on the British seaside and form part of her masters degree exhibition.
Since her last show, Emilia Zogo, has clearly taken a radical step forward in terms of her artistic expression. These multiple exposure images are very different from her previous photography, the choice of digital monochrome aside.
The pictures have a dreamlike quality, presenting a new perspective on the British seaside, our bit of it in particular. They have an immediacy founded in the local images familiar to so many, yet seen in a different context. You can certainly have fun figuring out where the various photo segments were shot. The photographs are put together using an in-camera multiple-exposure technique, rather than darkroom focused photo-montage.
There are several Fylde Coast locations, in addition to Blackpool.
I spoke to Emilia and looked to tease out what was behind her work a little more.
What has led Emilia down the path to multiple-exposure photography?
“The first thing was my masters degree, my tutors suggested that it would be better to go a bit deeper into a topic. So, I wanted to focus on memory, perception; so seeing things differently, which is common because we all see things differently. Using multiple-exposure in camera, is something different because most photographers use photoshop to create this kind of effect; I thought it was better to use the camera. How I see things, which is chaotic, like a dream; how we want to tell a story we were dreaming about. Blackpool and surrounding area like St. Anne’s, some of my photographs show St. Anne’s as well. So I just wanted to focus on things in this area.”
Has Emilia tried darkroom-based photo-montages?
“This was tried last year, but now everything is in camera; digital in camera. I always do monochrome. There’s no post-production, aside from cropping the image.”
When is an image finished?
“That’s the thing, I’m not sure if they tell everything that I wanted to tell. Sometimes you have that feeling that it must be this. Even though the exhibition is not my full portfolio, there are eleven images, my Final Masters Project for my masters degree will be fifteen of twenty images. The submission deadline is in August, so the project is not finished but I think it will tell everything that I want it to tell.”
How does Emilia see her work developing?
“This might be an ongoing thing because I started this technique, which is collage. Some of my photographs are like a collage, more like a kaleidoscope, which I started autumn last year, which is very new I would say. You need more time to think how you’re going to go with it; you can experiment and go with the flow, but sometimes if it’s about telling a story as a collage, you need to think how you want to compose everything. So I think I’m going to develop more in the future. I finish my masters soon and then I need to take a few months break. This is my masters exhibition.”
Is the career going to be photography?
“It’s hard to say. It’s something new for me. All around we see still images; I like motion and I like experimenting. I think there’s a space for me.”
Thanks to Emilia for these insights into her process. Also thanks to the Tea Amantes team for the drinks, fruit and buns.
The exhibition will be available to view until 3rd August 2025.
Grab a snack while you’re there, or book in for a tattoo.
