Back in November we were delighted to welcome two new assistants to the Art Collection team as Graduate Associates: Cami O’Hagan, a graduate from the University of Salford’s BA (Hons) Photography course who has previously collaborated with us as a Curatorial Intern, and Keira Marchant, a graduate from the University of Salford’s BA(Hons) Film Production course who has a background in film programming.
To share a bit about themselves they have conducted a Q & A with each other, as an intro to their backgrounds, interests and aspirations.
Cami
“What in your life do you find has most shaped your artistic practice and approach to art?“
In 2015 my mum brought me to a photography exhibition at Belfast Exposed Gallery, ‘Tokyo Compression’ by Michael Wolf a documentary photographer who focuses on life in mega cities. I had never seen photography like this before; the images depicted portraiture of the daily commuters in Tokyo squished against the glass of the train, highlighting passengers’ facial expressions. This was the first time I had seen a series that explored the dystopian nature of living and working in a busy city. This experience kickstarted my journey in photography, where I began to explore subcultures in my hometown of Belfast through documentary photography. Fast-forward 10 years later and this experience has prompted me to use art as a tool to explore my identity and also the world around me.
“What do you find draws you most to galleries, collections and art?“
So many factors draw me to galleries, collections and art – but I believe the one element that draws me in most is when gallery’s approach their collection from a nuanced perspective. I love when art is curated in such a way that breaks through the traditional standards of curating – for example, involving local community in co-curation in asking for feedback from members of the public, or bringing emerging artists in to reconsider historical artworks through a more contemporary/radical perspective.
“What is your favourite place in Salford or Manchester?”
That’s a great question; I don’t think I can decide on just one area! My favourite place in Salford would have to be the walk from Peel Park to Paradise Works that runs along the River Irwell – this is one of the many walking roots I took while completing my studies here, which helped me explore and connect with the City of Salford on a deeper level, it’s such an interesting landscape that connects Salford to Manchester.
My favourite place in Manchester is the Whitworth Art Gallery. This was the first ever gallery I visited after moving to Manchester, so it holds a lot of sentimental value. During the autumn months when the sun sets, the back of the gallery is a beautiful place to be during golden hour.
“If you could display your art anywhere (it doesn’t have to be a gallery or museum space), where would you display it?“
This is quite rogue, but I’d love to display my artworks on the Briar Hill Court tower block in Salford. I’m fascinated by brutalist architecture.
“Which artist or artists do you find resonate most with you as a person, and why?“
I will forever feel connected to Derek Jarman; he was my introduction to the world of queer art. I admire that he highly resisted the urge to create through just one artistic route, experimenting with many different mediums – film, costume and set design, painting, poetry, writing, and gardening. As someone who believes art can be made with so multiple layers of narrative – I resonate with how Jarman was able to use activism in such visceral ways, showing such commitment to the social and political currents of his time, but also weaving his own personal narratives – living through the era of Thatcherism and section 28 as a gay rights activist.
“What is the best view you have ever seen?“
The view at the top of my list has got to be of Belfast from the top of Cave Hill, where you have this amazing panoramic view of Belfast and its surrounding areas – you can see all the historic and scenic spots from here, Titanic Quarter, Scrabo Tower, and the Mourne Mountains.
Keira
“What is your most exciting/cherished memory during your time here at Salford?“
Coming from a smaller, quieter town, I always found early morning walks back from nights out to be great memories. I remember always being so surprised by and interested in the life and vibrancy of Salford and Manchester even at those early hours. Both cities have such a brilliant variety of people, and both look incredible during sunrise.
“What ignited your passion to work within the arts and museums sector?“
Growing up my parents always took me to whatever free galleries, museums and exhibitions they could find in Stoke-On-Trent, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, and Glasgow when visiting family. In a recent visit to Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, I found that Sophie Cave’s “Floating Heads” Installation was a lot less terrifying than it previously seemed to a 6 year old me.
During my studies in BA(Hons) Film Production, I discovered that galleries are incredible platforms for artists and filmmakers. Especially when mainstream cinema’s increasing focus on low financial risk as a factor when funding films means that lesser-known, emerging voices might not get a chance to be heard. I think galleries are important spaces for these artists to share their work with communities. I am delighted to be given the chance to give back to one of these spaces when they have enriched my life so much.
“If you could describe your practice/artistic vision in three words, what would they be? And Why?“
Bizarre: I love art that works to consider how genuinely strange and sometimes even incomprehensible life often is.
Subverting: I enjoy art that makes part with your previous ways of thinking and consider your values from a different perspective.
Affecting: I think artworks should create a response in those who see it, this could be considering a perspective or point, a response to the beauty of something, or anything in between.
“Has there been any exhibitions/artistic productions you have seen in the last year that have changed the way you perceive art?“
I have recently seen a local exhibition in Stoke’s Spode Museum called “Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’”. This exhibit made me consider that the objects we surround ourselves with, and that decorate our lives, come with their own networks of cultural and historical links, as well as the personal connection to those that made them. Ceramics alongside manufacturing in general is such a large part of my heritage with many of my family having worked in pot banks, bookbinding, steelworks, and machinery manufacturing, so I feel that it is important to consider that art isn’t just made in studios, and that creation is a skill held by all those that make.
“Is there a specific artist, or movement that you’d love to see an exhibition on in the future?“
The photographer Elizaveta Porodina is currently working in collaboration with Boris Acket who creates sensory and kinetic installations that he calls ‘temporal works’ and ‘living systems’. Porodina’s photographs are like nothing I’ve seen before and I’ve been interested in her work for a long time now. Her work visualises the connection between body and soul through the way she intersects form and light with the temporal and momentary nature of photography. I feel that Acket’s installations will provide a whole new realm and context in which these images can be viewed. It would be incredible to see these works in an exhibition, so I constantly have an eye out for updates.
“Do you have any weird and wonderful hobbies?“
I do a lot of photography in my spare time and love anything that gets me out in nature, but nothing yet that verges on weird and wonderful, however if anyone has any suggestions, I am always up for discovering new hobbies, so please send them my way!
To see more about what Cami and Keira have been up to see their websites or socials below:
Cami O’Hagan:
Website: https://cohagan1.wixsite.com/camiohagan
Instagram: @coh_visuals
Keira Marchant
Instagram: @keira_marchant_photography