Katie Hallam
Hallam considers the traces our digital culture will leave on the earth, evolving and morphing materials transformed into fossilised objects to be found by future archaeologists. These digital-mineral hybrid and hypnotic works sit against a background of open, natural and urban landscapes that tease the question of future glitches in nature and calls into question the sustainability of the contemporary world’s technological fixations.
Primarily working in digital photography and print, Hallam has recently moved into creating sculptural works exploring her key interests in the physicality of ancient geology and the dematerialised aesthetics of contemporary technology.
Geology represents ‘ancient power’ with the digital age represented by an electrifying palette; neon greens, lava orange and ultraviolet.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh 2021 | ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, London 2021 | Resonant Strangeness, Marram Arts (online) 2021 | Gradcurate, Summer Exhibition (online) 2020 | V- Art Show – Live event and exhibition 2020 | The Beautiful Error, Gallery St Martin’s, Lincoln 2019
AWARDS:
Royal Scottish Academy Residency, partnered with Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop 2022/2023
EDUCATION:
MA Contemporary Art Practice, Edinburgh College of Art 2020 | PGCE Art and Design, University of Cambridge 2012 | BA (Hons) Educational Studies with Art and Design (First), Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln 2011 | HND Photography – Leeds Metropolitan University 2003
Katie Hallam lives and works in Perth, Scotland.
“With continued demand for refined mineral resources, geological matter is increasingly presented as a substance that is ascribed value through its conversion into a product, particularly products associated with technology. My work is an amalgamation of these interests including the physicality of ancient geology and the dematerialised aesthetics of contemporary technology. I address the physical dimensions of this materiality, the concern of natural resource depletion as we irreversibly change the Earth's landscape.
My current sculptures consider the creation of futuristic landscapes, installations of geological forms and electric pallets of printed photography combined together. I use dramatic and physical ‘quarry’ like materials, textures and colours that challenge a viewer's perception of object and landscape and also allow the opportunity to open up conversations about the increase and impact digital detritus are having directly on and within the earth’s surface.”
Interview:
