Personal Statement

From a young age I expressed myself through creativity however I didn't connect to a specific art form until I began to study GCSE photography. I entered the darkroom and was immediately drawn to black and white film photography. While studying GCSE and A Level Photography, I used standard development and printing processes and I am currently studying a Foundation Course in Art and Design, giving me the opportunity to experiment with different chemicals during the development and print stages. Foundation course has enabled me to move from taking individual photographs to creating a body of work ready to be exhibited and presented with intention. The course is also allowing me to explore a broad range of techniques and disciplines, including lino, mono, screen printing and heat press. Visual communication has taught me how to present my work graphically, culminating in the production of a large format A3 zine. I have become more analytical and inquisitive, developing my creative practice and understanding where my abilities and interests fit within art and design. I have also benefited from working both independently and collaboratively with group teaching and tutorials.

During lockdown I built a darkroom in our garden, giving me daily access to my work and the technical skills required to maintain the equipment. I have used 35mm and medium format film but am excited to produce large format work, experiment with fibre-based paper shoot and develop in colour. I have also explored cameraless photography, photograms, luminograms and chemigrams. 

I have explored the genres of architecture and social documentary but have mostly focused on the nude. I have investigated the use of slow shutter speed to capture movement resulting in high contrast, grainy images. Over lockdown I signed up to weekly online life drawing classes, broadening my perspective on visualising the human body when taking photographs. I am fascinated by the politics surrounding how the nude is depicted in art. Books that I have found particularly interesting are Berger's ‘Ways of Seeing’, Sontag’s ‘On Photography’ and art magazines including ANOther, Wul, Ingnant and Elephant Magazine (I have one of my photographs featured in Enbloc enbloc.co.uk/product/liorna-goldstein-untitled-print/). 

Over the past year, I have visited Frieze, Paris Photo, and PhotoLondon, and many galleries, including The Photographers Gallery, The Royal Academy, Tate Britain, Liverpool and Modern. I have been to exhibitions in Amsterdam, Israel, New York and Paris. The most inspiring exhibition I visited this year was at the Jeu de Paume; entitled Masterworks of Modern Photography 1900-1940 - a collection from the Moma. I am inspired by photographers Brandt, Cartier-Bresson, and Salgado; and modern commercial photographers such as Carlota Guerrero, Kingsley Ifill and Hedi Stanton. 

Commercially, my photography has been used for a fitness studio’s brand and I have enjoyed collaborations with a current Glasgow School of Art, Fine Art student, Maisie Savage. These experiences have helped me with time management skills, client communication and an exposure to digital photography and Photoshop. I am excited by the opportunity to study B.A. (Hons) Fine Art Photography to further explore and develop the boundaries of my work.