11-15 March 2013, Peltz Room, School of Arts, Birkbeck, University of London, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

An exhibition of the photographic work in progress of the AHRC funded Traces of Nitrate project developed at the University of Brighton by Ignacio Acosta, Louise Purbrick and Xavier Ribas.

The Peltz Room is open on the following days:

Monday 9.00am to 9.00pm

Tuesday 9.00am to 5.30pm

Wednesday 9.00am to 9.00pm

Thursday 9.00am to 5.30pm

Friday 9.00am to 9.00pm

Seminar

Traces of Nitrate: Archives and Landscapes between Britain and Chile

Monday, 11 March, 6-7.30pm, Keynes Library (Room 114), School of Arts, Birkbeck, University of London, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

Chilean nitrate, once highly prized mineral, was at the centre of the relationship between Britain and Chile from the middle of the nineteenth century to the early twentieth. This paper, an outcome of a collaboration between an art historian and photographers, intends to open a debate about the neglect and importance of the history of nitrate. The ‘trace’ of the paper’s title refers to our process of delineating the circuit of nitrate wealth from mines in Atacama desert to City of London merchant houses and global corporations. ‘Trace’ also refers to nitrate’s physical remains: the trace as material form, fragile and fragmented. We examine traces in archives of a British academic, in surfaces of abandoned nitrate mines and in the structures of copper mining.

Postgraduate Workshop

Photographic Documentation of Sites and Histories

Tuesday, 12 March, 6-7.30pm,  Peltz Room, School of Arts, Birkbeck, University of London, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

This postgraduate workshop is an opportunity to discuss the role of photography in the process of research, documentation and story telling of contested sites and histories with two experienced documentary photographers. Ignacio Acosta and Xavier Ribas will show examples of their work to illustrate their methodologies and production of photographic works prior to discussing the participants own work.

This event is restricted to Birbeck postgraduate students.

Gallery Talk

Traces of Nitrate: Mining history and photography between Britain and Chile

Friday, 15 March, 1-2 pm, Peltz Room, School of Arts, Birkbeck, University of London, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD

These events are organized in collaboration with the History and Theory of Photography Research Centre

All welcome. Booking is not required. First come, first served

Biographies

Ignacio Acosta is the doctoral researcher in the AHRC funded Traces of Nitrate project. His photographic practice investigates the flow of capital and how it impacts on contemporary physical geographies. He is currently researching the legacy of copper.

Louise Purbrick is Principal Lecturer in the History of Art and Design, University of Brighton. Her contribution to the Traces of Nitrate is a development of her research in contested spaces and material culture.