We recently had photography graduate Alexander Mourant come to give us a talk about his practice and process of photography which I found to be enlightening.
He deferred his final year to work for war foundation creating charity images in Africa as he felt he wasn’t ready for his final year. The idea of going and working in the real photographic world before graduating seems very relevant and a good move to me, as it gave him experience and a wider knowledge of the world he would soon be entering into. Whilst he was away he also contacted a magazine and asked if they oddly want to feature some of his images and wiring which they agreed to. I had never considered contacting the magazine first, I presumed you would always have to be spotted yourself, so this has given me the confined to consider doing in the future. This time in Africa significantly impacted and inspired his work to this day.
His final year project ‘Aurelian’ 2017 came from researching early conceptualism, land art and time. His interest in elemental practice pushed him to create butterfly house images, relating to colonialism and naturalistic ideas, bringing him back to his time in Africa. Furthering this point he also used film from Africa to picture the butterflies, illustrating the focus on re-experience and reminiscing. I found his images beautiful and felt they had so much depth to them. Although his practice is very fine art and conceptual, the idea of always reverting back to previous experience is something I explore through Documentary work and feel its integral to the creation fo a body of work. He also spoke about his in depth reading and studying as he photographs, illustrating the combination of literature and art and their importance together. I think writing and prior research are so important to documentary works as they explore feelings, history, time and place.
Overall I found his talk to be so enriching and telling, of the commercial world, how to enter competitions and to persist in work and draw inspiration form past experience, which ultimately shapes who we are and our practice.
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