Rachel Maloney
(associate artist)
Rachel Maloney is our first Associate Artist. She will be using the platform of the exhibition as research for a body of work that explores the borders of photographs and how these boundaries affect our memories. She will be running two discussion workshops at the Eldon Square shop unit across from the British Heart foundation by the Monument entrance on Saturday 25 February and Tuesday 6 March from 10am - 5pm. Please drop in any time.
Rachel is a visual and performance artist with a strong interest in the analogue process of photography. She graduated from the BA (hons) Contemporary Photographic Practice course at Northumbria University in July 2008. After graduating she undertook a yearlong fellowship at Northumbria University, exploring symbolism and ritual action within art, history and religion. In September 2009 Rachel began a term of employment with the NHS as a Medical Photographer and in March 2011 completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Illustration at Cardiff University. The clinical techniques used to create medical photographs within this profession have greatly influenced her art practice and theory on photography.
Rachel intends to explore the relationship we have to our personal photographs. Every time a photographic image is taken a square or rectangular border is placed on the world, a decision made, and a “scene” is captured. Personal photographs, for example a snapshot from a family holiday, embody certain meaning and importance to specific individuals, which can appear meaningless to others who find the subject matter unfamiliar. Do the borders of a photograph help or prevent us from connecting to it? Rachel will explore this question through her interaction and conversations with visitors to the exhibition.
Looking at photographs of loved ones.
With Rachel Maloney
As part of my research and art practice I am exploring the connection people have with personal photographs, and what makes them so sentimental. Is the border around a photograph something that stops us from connecting to it, only reminding us of the past and what is lost? Or is the boundary we create when we photograph people like a precious moment in time stopped still for us to look back on and re-live happy memories?
What do your family photographs mean to you? For this event I am asking people to pick one personal photograph to bring to the event for discussion and reflection. The image should be one you have a personal connection with, a photograph of your loved ones: family, friends, lovers, husbands, wives, parents, children, mysterious strangers or even old ancestors. As long as it has a story to tell, is decent (this is a family event so no naughty pictures please) and is something you are willing to share with others then bring it along.
The event is all day and you can drop in and out at any point and stay as little or as long as you like. You can speak to me one on one or within a small group about your photograph. I may ask you some questions about it and let you ask me some of my personal photographs which will be on display. I will also be asking people if they would mind me taking a photograph of them with their photograph. Some of the photographs may be displayed in the space and I can provide people with a copy if requested. Please note this optional and no one will be pressured into having a photograph taken so please still come along even if you do not wished to be photographed. Also if you do not want to share one of your photographs but would like to take part you can still come along to have a look and join in the discussion.
