About the artists No.3 - Hazel Walker

After graduating in 2010 from the University of Northampton with a First Honorary Degree in Photographic Practice, I remain focused on making work evolving from my final year exhibition ‘Hinterland’; developing into a lifelong assignment.

The human species identifies natural forms by using constituents of the sensory system like touch and smell, more importantly sight to distinguish diverse botanical species.  Light is fundamental to the process of seeing, survival of all life forms, and Photography within the field of Art.  Scientific processes engage artificial light primarily in microscopy. The exhibited work was made by means of unconventional optics either connected to the camera body or a separate apparatus.

Layers of visual and sensory possibility embrace the natural environment, where the ‘visible’ touches on the ‘invisible’, offering a glimpse of the inner beauty of natural phenomena.

Photosynthesis is reliant on light in plants.  A leaf cell houses many components with the Chloroplast key in driving the process; daylight is absorbed by the pigment Chlorophyll in Thylakoid disks located within the Chloroplast.  The exhibition was designed representing in part the Chloroplast internal structure.

Pinhole imagery of trees signified rural space while their stance influences the ‘tree of life’.  Hence, the pertinence for pinhole subject matter to be trees presented as light ‘specimens’ depicting ‘absorption of light’ in its purest form.  This idea has its influences in the work of William Henry Fox Talbot, Scientist, (1800-1877), who came to realize how sunlight reacts with sensitized paper ascertaining the ‘negative’.

Natural wonder is encased not only in what the eye interprets, but its ability to transport one deeper ‘into’ the space, creating layers.  Initial images disclose radiance of colour, communicating a magical aura of rural space and the visible light spectrum.

Life cycle is demonstrated by the juxtaposition of triptychs: ‘forming’ of new growth, adulthood and ‘reproduction’, also living organisms having interior and exterior structures only to ‘decay’ over time while new life is born.  A further layer has been achieved by means of scientific approach encountering surface textures, whilst the traditional microscope enables the inner beauty of the natural environment to be revealed interlocking ‘art’ and ‘science’ by way of abstract visuals.

Hazel Walker BA (HONS), ARPS

Book available: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1539013

Look out for further editions in 2012!

© Hazel Walker BA Hons, ARPS: copying prohibited ALL texts and images