While studying for my degree in fine art, which I completed in July 2014, I realised that there is a burgeoning interest in photochemistry amongst the “20 something students.” What with diminishing photochemical resources within places of learning these days, I thought that the time was ripe for me to go on the road with a lecture / performance that demonstrates the simplest of processes and create debate about why this process has been adopted by this digital generation. We may have as little as 15 years left of film in its current manifestation. This generation are finding it increasing difficult to learn and experience this medium. My performance simplifies and demystifies the process, making it accessible and democratic. What will be learnt will stay with these students for a lifetime.
In the summer of 2013 I started on the project "Dirty, Filthy Paper, Dirty, Filthy Film". The idea was quite simple, to engage with an audience in the context of a gallery space, about photochemistry, alchemy, magic and love. I made a small compact darkroom, ( a light proof tent over a small table ) I would invite audience members to participate. I photographed them with a 5x4 camera loaded with photographic paper, we make a long exposure image, I invite them to climb under my table, beneath the darkroom tent and we make the negative and a contact print. We discuss the process, the magic, the chemistry and the participant falls in love with the process. By working at this hands on level we create ownership, there is no processor, no computer making decisions, the decisions become ours at the very birth of the image. The participant takes the print home with them. I can guarantee that this paper print will stay with them their whole lives and along with that print the memories of that experience under a small table where the magic of photochemistry altered their perception of image making.
"Dirty, Filthy Paper, Dirty, Filthy Film" has been performed at Norwich University of the Arts, Stew gallery and the Sainsbury centre for the visual arts. Adam T. Burton is a practicing performance artist, specialising in the translation of physical spaces into psychological narrative. He has given workshops on Book making, research methodology and photochemistry.
