BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//eluceo/ical//2.0/EN VERSION:2.0 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:b8828e71fa9c3dfb520dde79e53cfa4f DTSTAMP:20260515T202713Z SUMMARY:Ancient Light DESCRIPTION: \nAncient Light is an exhibition of photographs by London base d artist Melanie King.\nThrough the production of these artworks\, King co nsiders how light from incredibly distant stars can be captured directly o nto photosensitive film. These photographs were captured on travels to dar k sky areas\, including Kielder Observatory in Northumberland\, Dartmoor N ational Park and the Lumen Art Residency.\n \nIn this exhibition\, Melani e encourages us to view the original negatives and corresponding silver ge latin prints from her “Ancient Light” series. To create these negative s\, photons emitted from stars travel over millions of years through the v oid of space. The photon then travels through Earths’ atmosphere and thr ough the camera lens\, at which point the photon is physically absorbed by the silver halide crystals suspended in the film. When processed\, the si lver halide crystals turn black as they come into contact with developer a nd fixer. For Melanie\, these negatives are as precious as a meteorite or fossil\, as their material structure is formed by the passage of incompreh ensible periods of time.\n \nThe solarised silver gelatin Moon image is a result from ongoing collaborative analogue photography experiments with T heo Schlichter\, utilising the Fry telescope at the UCLO observatory in Mi ll Hill\, London.\n \n“On Dartmoor” comprises of four large scale dig ital photographs that were created spontaneously in absence of an analogue camera. The images are enlarged\, and have been blown up to A0 size in or der to provide the viewer with an immersive\, dizzying experience when vie wed up close.\n \n“Ancient Light” was originally inspired by the “E nvisioning The Universe” seminar at the National Maritime Museum. At thi s seminar academic Elizabeth Kessler explained how images from the Hubble Telescope are mediated before being published to the general public. Colou rs\, crops and contrasts are added with sophisticated digital imaging tech niques to communicate important features such as chemical composition of a star or structures of gas clouds of nebulae. These images aren’t object ive\, but neither are they subjective – curiously they sit somewhere in- between. Melanie was unsatisfied by the “constructed” nature of these images\, and consequently began her own practice based research journey. I n 2015\, Melanie created photogravure prints of the Andromeda Galaxy\, Moo n\, Earthrise and comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko\, which were obtained from t he NASA and ESA online archives. Using the subjective nature of mediated a stronomical photographs as a starting point\, Melanie was interested to fi nd out how the materiality of the compressed carbon black ink and fine Hah nemuhle paper affects our reading of an astronomical image.\n \nOverall\, King’s practice enables her to better understand the phenomena of astro nomy in a tangible material way. As part of her participatory practice\, K ing teaches workshops on cyanotype\, astrophotography and telescope handli ng.  King also encourages others to look through telescopes and to visit dark sky spaces with super/collider pop-up astronomy events\, inspiration trips to observatories and the Lumen art residency.\nThe Language of the S tars // 15th January\, 303A & 303B\, Sherfield Building\, Imperial Coll ege London. 7-9pm.\n \n \nAs part of the Ancient Light exhibition at the Blyth Gallery at Imperial College London\, Melanie will be holding an eve nt with theoretical cosmologist Dr Roberto Trotta on astronomy and languag e. In conversation with Roberto\, Melanie will explore some aspects of the language astronomers use to describe their instruments\, and their findin gs. The artist and the scientist will discuss the relationship between wor ds and their meaning\, in the context of contemporary astrophysical resear ch. How can the public at large and fine artists unlock the complex ideas behind often jargon-laden explanations? \n \nMelanie will discuss the ter m “celestograph”\, coined by 19th Century playwright August Strindb erg after he laid a photosensitive plate under the night sky hoping to “ catch” starlight. Melanie will also speak about the etymology of astron omical terms.  Melanie’s practice based research in Fine Art explores t he intrinsic connection between humans\, materials and phenomena existing beyond the Earths’ atmosphere. She primarily uses sun\, moon and starl ight to cause effects on photosensitive materials. Melanie can often be fo und in the darkroom\, and is known for her work with silver gelatin mater ials\, cyanotype and daguerreotype.\n \nRoberto’s research in cosmology is about analysing\, interpreting and making sense of cosmological observ ations\, in order to learn more about the properties and nature of dark ma tter and dark energy.  His book “The Edge of The Sky: All You Need to K now about the All-There-Is” tells the story of the most important disco veries and mysteries in modern cosmology using only the thousand most comm on words in the English language (excluding physics\, energy\, galaxy\, or even “universe”!).\nMelanie King // Biography\n \nBorn in Manchester \, UK in 1988\, Melanie King is an artist and curator with a specific focu s on astronomy.  She is co-Director of super/collider\, Lumen Studios and the London Alternative Photography Collective.  Melanie is currently stu dying towards a practice based PhD in Fine Art at the Royal College of Art . She is a graduate of the MA in Art and Science at Central Saint Martins and the BA Fine Art at Leeds Art University.\n Melanie’s inaugural solo exhibition was held at Leeds Art University in 2017. This exhibition “An cient Light” is Melanie’s first London solo exhibition. She has exhibi ted in group shows at The Photographers’ Gallery\, Argentea Gallery\, Gu est Projects\, Space Studios and the Sidney Cooper Gallery. Melanie has al so exhibited in a wide range of international galleries and has taken part in a number of international residencies to develop aspects of her practi ce.\n Melanie has been involved in a number of large scale commissions. Th ese commissions include a giant eclipse installation at Green Man Festival with Lumen Studios and large scale cyanotypes with the London Alternative Photography Collective. In December 2017\, Melanie was commissioned by CO S Stores to write a piece “On Bubbles” in association with Design Miam i and Studio Swine.\n Melanie regularly presents her work at conferences\, universities and galleries. Notable venues include The Photographers’ G allery\, TATE Exchange\, International Space University: Space Studies Pro gramme\, University of the Arts Helsinki\, London College of Communication \, London LASER: Central Saint Martins\, London South Bank University\, Ko smica: Mexico\, Kosmica: Paris\, Helsinki Photomedia\, Second Home\, Soho House\, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg\, Uncertain States and Photoforum. \n Melanie also organises participatory workshops in relation to her pract ice. She has developed workshops for the Whitechapel Gallery\, The Photogr aphers’ Gallery\, TATE Exchange\, the Institute of Physics\, East Street Arts\, Kosmica: Mexico\, SALT Festival: Norway\, London College of Commun ication Short Courses\, Photofusion\, Phytology\, Hackney Arts\, Ditto Pre ss and Brighton Photo Biennal. \nMelanie King //  Statement\n \nMelanie ’s practice explores the intrinsic connection between humans\, materials and phenomena existing beyond the Earths’ atmosphere. She primarily use s sun\, moon and starlight to cause effects on photosensitive materials. M elanie can often be found in the darkroom\, and is known for her work with silver gelatin materials\, cyanotype and daguerreotype. Melanie also expl ores materiality in relation to traditional printmaking processes\, using meteorite-imbued ink to create a series of photo-etchings. Melanie’s pra ctice is focused upon demonstrating how humanity\, planet earth and the gr eater universe are intimately connected. In the current ecological climate \, Melanie believes that it is particularly important to consider our rela tionship to our home planet.\n Melanie’s work as a curator and events or ganiser also explores the relationship between light\, photography and the natural world. Melanie believes that the action of looking through a tele scope or at a dark sky full of stars can be a transformative experience. W ith a cosmic viewpoint\, it is possible to gain the perspective that we as humans are part of something much bigger than ourselves. In other words\, our ecological and social networks are affected by our own actions.\n Mel anie’s obsession with astronomy began at a young age when she was introd uced to the concept of a vast universe by her parents. Melanie experienced deep anxiety as a child when faced with the idea of deep time and giant s tars\, which led to a mental block lasting until she began exploring again at art school in early adulthood. Melanie’s fear of space has now becom e a fascination and she is consequently exploring the concept of the cosmi c sublime. An important turning point for Melanie’s research was the Env isioning the Universe seminar at the National Maritime Museum in 2013 conv ened by astronomer Marek Kukula. Here\, the concept of the astronomical su blime was discussed in depth. \n The complimentary practices of astronomy and analogue photography processes rely on a precise interplay between to tal darkness and controlled exposure to light. Melanie’s writing has rec ently focused on this experience in relation to metaphorical darkness\, bo th in the search for knowledge and for spiritual enlightenment.\n \n URL:https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/100052/ancient-light/ DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180110T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180201T210000 LOCATION:United Kingdom END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20180110T090000 TZNAME:GMT TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR