The Art of Experimentation Symposium - Recording

Thank you for everyone who joined us at The Art of Experimentation Symposium in Bristol on 1st August 2026. The symposium was organised by Folkhouse Darkroom and Women Alternative Photography Group.

I really enjoyed reading a paper about translucent bodies, which you can listen to on Women Alternative Photography Group Youtube. I loved learning about pinhole cameras, first from Marie Craig with reflections on time and distorted immediacy of the live projection, before moving to Wendy Leocque whose camera made from her grandmother's "grip" (an old Jamaican term for suitcase) reminded us of people whose trajectories were drawn by the empire. Amazing talk by Ainoa Burgos explored the ways of addressing climate change and pollution using cameraless techniques with assertion and urgency. Julie Corcoran showed us thoughtful and beautiful work made with experimental developers which source materials remind us of the global trade of goods and the extend to which we still experience the marks of the British Empire's involvement in the slave trade. Lastly, Riya Panwar showed us beautiful and ephemeral living photographs, asking questions about our relationship with the natural world and the temporarily of the photograph.

Thank you, Sophie Sherwood and Elizabeth Ransom for putting this event together, making us feel welcome and giving us the space to meet each other. And of course thank you to Fra Beecher for the photographs.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE