'Visibilis': Final Major Project and the Final Days as a University Student.
- Sep 21, 2022
- 3 min read
I left University three months ago and after taking a long summer break, I’m ready to finally reflect on those final weeks and introduce to you my final major project! My project got a first class mark and since its debut at our final degree show, has featured in an exhibition at a local gallery and one piece was shortlisted for the D31 Art Prize 2022. It was a rollercoaster of a journey to finish that project but I am so pleased with the result and I hope you will enjoy reading its backstory too!
The last six weeks of University after our Easter break were some of the most chaotic but best moments of my whole degree experience. The general buzz around the department and the camaraderie between my cohort was really enjoyable to be a part of. The exhibition opening felt like such a pinnacle moment, and it was the first degree show without restrictions post pandemic, so it was lovely to be able to have people viewing the work in person!
It was only when those weeks were over and I was uninstalling prints and packing up portfolios, that the realisation hit that my university years were over (at least for now). My university experience consisted of 18 months of online or blended learning, so I didn’t feel like it was my time to leave, until I had to. Despite all of this, I will always remember those final weeks as a great laugh and a lovely time making memories, and creating art with my friends.
The Final Project
Onto my final major project! I actually didn’t solidify an idea for my final project until January, so if there are any degree students out there still unsure of what their final major project will be, fear not! For me, it was the creation of a zine (a kind of photobook), a task set by my lecturer, that gave me the ‘lightbulb’ moment I needed. I started experimenting with UV paint at the end of semester one, and over Christmas I transitioned to using ultraviolet light on surfaces around the home. This opened up so many possibilities, so many avenues that could be explored, and ultimately culminated in my project “Visibilis”.
Visibilis is a celebration of the coming together of art and science. It explores Walter Benjamin’s concept of the Optical Unconscious; the ways in which the camera can provide access to what the eye cannot see. My project was an attempt at developing a new Optical Unconscious, whereby technological advancements in the camera can now provide access to spectrums of light beyond and including the visible. This involved an observation into how UV light, visible light, and Infrared light interacted with various textures and objects.
The final piece consisted of three circular prints, which represented the three light spectrums. The circular presentation represents both the eye and the camera lens, and how they both work in similar ways. I also produced a photobook, which will eventually be available to buy, and incorporated an interactive element through the use of UV ink and a torch. It was really fun to see so many people interact with the work in different ways!
On a personal level, I wanted this project to be different to anything I had produced before, and I wanted to push myself away from my comfort zone. My eyes were opened to alternate photographic and printing processes, and I feel I really pushed the boundaries of what my camera technology was capable of. I think photography is often perceived as a medium that tells the audience about its subject matter. While true, in contrast, I think the subject matter can tell the audience something about photography just as well. For me, the subject matter portrayed photography and the camera as a scientific tool. Visibilis touches on the limitations of human perspective, and I hope this exploration of art and science can open our eyes to the endless possibilities, and new perspectives that photography can provide us with.
A modified version of Visibilis was recently featured in The Specimen Cabinet exhibition at the Fronteer Gallery in Sheffield. Additionally, one piece was selected for the D31 Art Gallery, Art Prize 2022.
You can find Visibilis on the project page over on my website. Alternatively, head over to my Instagram to view more images from the project and a photobook flip-through.
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