Fragments

Fragments was the final exhibition as part of my masters in photography at the University of the Arts London. Throughout the program, I pondered the relationship between the still image and movement. I questioned my entire practice as a dance photographer. The way in which we perceive motion has evolved throughout the years, especially in dance photography. As a dance photographer myself, I constantly think about how to best capture motion through my images. Largely inspired by Eadweard Muybridge, I started to create sequences where viewers could use their imagination to add movement to the still pieces. These still pieces were collaged together using photos of dancers I had taken over the past year in London. The collaged figures or fragments allow the dancers to question the ideals of traditional dance photography. Contemporary technology has allowed for the tiniest details to be seen, with burst modes on smartphones and ‘live’ images, making the ‘optical unconscious’ more visible than ever. As a result, I use this choreography of figures to challenge this, and to point to perceived motion as something the viewer can engage with outside of technological advances. In this way, I am creating tension between the still and the moving, and our ability to observe these through dance. The height and installation of the piece over a window allows for viewers to be part of the performance.