My photographic practice focuses on constructed narrative photography, currently incorporating convergent media. This kind of convergent photography integrates numerous layers of images, some of which are produced via real-time interactivity. These processes encourage the viewer to engage with the photographs on a number of immersive levels. The practice I am developing is unique because it uses sonic elements to create visual components. These are produced in collaboration with the VisuoSonic research group based at Southampton Solent University, with whom I have had an active involvement from the evolution of the project. Working with VisuoSonics allows me to experiment with my research ideas & hypothesis in a contemporary context.
The inspiration behind this project stems from my earlier fascination and research on multi-layered constructed narratives. Working with VisuoSonics has enabled me to develop this research further, by combining and incorporating still images, sound activated images, videos & live performance to create photographic images that are not repeatable and are inimitable due to the way they are generated via real-time interactivity. Through this process I am able to construct musical imagery.
The project is supported by HEFCE funding and my on-going sponsorship from Olympus and can be viewed at www.visuosonic.org
My daughter, Emily-Louise is my Muse and the source of inspiration for a series of work entitled Becoming Emily. The resulting series evolved through investigations into the understanding of our relationship over a period of ten years, using photography as the vehicle through which I explore her identity. I question whom I am photographing, Emily, her personas, or my own visualisation of my muse; and question my position: photographer, author, mother or voyeur.
My work often paraphrases the sentimental approach adopted by Julia Margaret Cameron. Cameron had an indefatigable passion to immortalise her subjects & through Rose Tinted Reflections I have re-enacted this theme in a contemporary context. Rose Tinted Reflections is a major photographic installation that toured for two years as a solo exhibition. It consists of a reconstructed archive of 60 photographs and a collection of reconstructed Victorian memorabilia. This work explores aspects of nineteenth century photographic practice and directly investigates mother/daughter relationships on a number of levels, both nineteenth century & today. The fictional story of Rose centres on a female amateur Victorian photographer, Florence Somerton and her daughter, Rose. As Florence, and using Emily-Louise as the model for Rose, I immortalise both the fictional character of Rose and Emily-Louise in the same way as Cameron’s subjects were immortalised, almost 140 years earlier.
Nos.tal.gist shows a selection of my work including ‘Tracks Luggage Steam’, an examination of concepts such as nostalgia; the timeless world of rail travel in the age of steam, creating a feeling of repetition evocative of the hypnotic sound of a train on the tracks; the soporific movement of the carriages and the soundless voyeurism of the ceaselessly changing views through the carriage windows. Tracks Luggage Steam, a set of three triptychs, won the Siemens Corporation Prize for Photography in 2003.
Resume
Sarah Hand (b.1966 Buckinghamshire) BA (Hons) Photography, 1st Class, studies in contemporary photographic practice, the management and archiving of photography, and photographic history, theory & critique. ARPS
Currently undertaking:
Masters Degree in Professional Practices, Interactive Media
Current employment
Management of the Centre for Advanced Scholarship in Art & Design at Southampton Solent University Associate Photography Lecturer in Media, Culture and Production at Southampton Solent University Trustee of the JMC Museum & Galleries
Key Exhibitions
2007 Becoming Emily Julia Margaret Cameron Museum & Galleries, solo exhibition sponsored by Olympus, June ? August 2006 Nos.tal.gist Concourse Gallery, Southampton, solo photographic exhibition, June ? October. Work Six pieces of work purchased for private collection 2004 Rose Tinted Reflections Palace House, Beaulieu; Highcliffe Castle, Dorset; JMC Museum & Galleries, Isle of Wight. Solo Photographic Exhibition & Installation sponsored by Agfa,; Olympus; Waitrose; National Motor Museum; Montagu Enterprises, Beaulieu; ?Pure?, Southampton. Supported by the Late Earl of Lichfield & Colin Ford CBE
Forthcoming
Notes from the Playground, touring exhibition sponsored by Olympus Fox Trot ? Dance with Tradition publication & exhibition sponsored by Olympus.
Prizes and Awards
Photography for Dolphin Hotel room theme, Aspace Gallery, Southampton with accompanying catalogue Siemens Corporation, Prize for Photography Associate Distinction to the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS) ?Living France? Magazine, Photography National Award Winner Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI), Business Achievement Award, National Award Winner, (one of final 8 in the UK) Runner-Up, ?Business Woman of the Year?, Milton Keynes & North Bucks Licentiate Distinction to the Royal Photographic Society (LRPS)
