“Brighton and the BA Photography course have provided me with a space to investigate and build upon an initial interest in photography that I wasn’t yet able to articulate or translate into a body of work.”My practice centres around the production of single photographs that translate instances of the everyday into pictures made for the gallery wall.
My work is primarily informed by existing practices associated with the idea of the ‘tableau form’ in photography, Jeff Wall being the most noted example. Artists such as Thomas Demand and Torbjørn Rødland also influence my work as they aim to question the production and consumption of photographs in contemporary culture by making pictures to be encountered in the gallery space. This exploring of the function and critical capacity of the photograph on the gallery wall is the central concern in my work.

How have you found your course and time at Brighton?
Brighton and the BA Photography course have provided me with a space to investigate and build upon an initial interest in photography that I wasn’t yet able to articulate or translate into a body of work. Through interacting and engaging with specific tutors I would say I have been able to expand upon, acknowledge and identify my core concerns as an artist.
On a few notable occasions I received an exceptional level of feedback from tutors that will no doubt continue to inform my thinking and approach to making photographs long after I graduate.
Overall, the course has given me the time and space to develop an initial interest in the medium into a mature artistic project that I feel able to sustain and develop post-graduation.

How did you choose your course – why did you choose to study Photography?
I came to Brighton to pursue an interest in photography as contemporary art, hoping further study of the subject would give me the tools to develop an initial interest into a mature art practice.

You’ve recently been shortlisted for  the Palm Photo Prize 2022 – can you tell us a bit about that?

In April 2022 my photograph ‘Substation, 2021’ was shortlisted for the prize. A tutor told me about the prize and I decided to enter as, much like my work, the prize put emphasis on individual photographs. I was thrilled to be shortlisted and look forward to seeing the photograph exhibited at 10-14 Gallery between the 5th of May and the 5th of June 2022.

Substation

What are your plans after graduation?
I’m looking forward to seeing how my graduate work enters the world and how I am able to discuss and present it to an audience wider than my peer group at university. I’m eager to see how my work is interacted with when displayed in the degree show but overall, I’m excited to sustain the practice that I have developed during my time at Brighton and to continue to produce new work that intrigues me enough to make the next.

Instagram – @s.thrn
Website – maxsouthern.co.uk

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