A short summary of Your project

I am raising £1065 to fund "Expression of the Negative," a unique project that explores German Expressionism's impact on contemporary portrait photography. This project includes a print photographic series that blends text and image, and a visual installation honoring historical woodcut techniques. Your support will help produce multiple copies of the series on high-quality photographic paper.

Who are you?

As a final-year graphic design student, I am deeply passionate about typography and experimental thinking. My work is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design and exploring new creative territories.

Your story

At the outset of my strand project, I immersed myself in various darkroom printing processes, fascinated by the tactile and unpredictable nature of photographic printing. My dissertation explores the impact of German Expressionism on contemporary portrait photography, inspiring both my theoretical framework and practical experiments.

“Expression of the Negative” fuses the textual and visual elements of my dissertation into a cohesive entity, transforming it into a visual piece that pays homage to German Expressionism. This project bridges historical and contemporary artistic practices, showcasing the evolution of techniques and their relevance today.

The funds raised will cover production costs for ten additional prints in a series of twelve images, created from my dissertation research. It will also support the creation of five archive boxes for the display and exhibition. Each twelve-image series is printed on high-gloss light-sensitive paper in the darkroom from a digital print negative on 88μm polyester.

By supporting this project, you help preserve an important cultural legacy and foster a dialogue between past and present, ensuring the continued influence of German Expressionism on future generations. Join me in making this vision a reality.

Where will the money go?

• Ilford Multigrade Resin Coated Deluxe Paper Glossy 20×24inches: £500 (120 sheets at £4.16 per sheet)
• Printing and producing the negatives on the wide format printer: £50
• Materials and production costs to produce five archive boxes:
• Buckram Cloth: £90
• Hardboard: £100
• Acid free paper: £65
• Ribbon: £10
• Ten Session studio pass at the London Centre for Book Arts: £250

Find us here

Instagram: @blakebollersmith