LATENT HALIDE
The core mechanisms of the photographic process involve a blank medium exposed to external phenomena in order to record an event. Traditionally, light alone is given the sole role in representation despite other phenomena playing an important role in how place is given meaning. Phenomena such as smell, temperature, and humidity, each play an irreplaceable role in how an event is experienced yet are wholly suppressed when utilising traditional photographic means.
Latent Halide utilises a method of thinking called Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO)—the idea that human experience doesn’t exist as a distinctly separate entity from all other forms of non-human experience. By mimicking the photographic process, the works intend to create a more holistic representation of non-human experience; giving agency to the non-human in their own representation and inviting other phenomena to aggregate and participate in the process.
The work denies the artist’s control in deciding the conclusion of the photographic event. As opposed to a photograph which has a clearly defined conclusion, the works continue to eventuate; physically representing the continual interactions which shape the work post installation. The resulting body of work visualises a non-human depiction of experience, attempting to deconstruct the anthropocentrism which pervades representational practice.
