BIO
Born in Barcelona in 1978, Naroa Pérez has been delving into the realms of touch, nostalgia, and fear through photography since 2002. Her artistic focus centers on the darkroom and its intricate processes, with a keen interest in procedural elements such as mistake, chance, and repetition. Pérez's photography pursuits extend to exploring techniques such as liquid emulsion and color printing, including color transparency E6.
Her artwork has found a place in prestigious collections, notably the library of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the rare book collection of Oxford University's Bodleian Library in Weston. In 2017, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Photography from the London College of Communication (UAL).
Currently, Pérez is engaged in a project divergent from her personal photography endeavors. She serves as the director of Lakeside Darkroom, situated in Thamesmead, London, nestled along the shores of Southmere Lake. For further details, visit www.lakesidedarkroom.com or follow @lakeside_darkroom on Instagram.
· Naroa Pérez (Barcelona 1978) es una fotógrafa desde 2002 que despierta los sentidos a través de proyectos que investigan el sentido del tacto, la nostalgia, y el miedo. Su práctica se centra en el laboratorio y su artesania celebrando conceptos de procedimiento como el error, el azar y la repetición. Enamorada de las diapositivas E6, la emulsión líquida y la impresión en color. Su obra se encuentra ya en la biblioteca del Victoria and Albert Museum de Londres. Y en la colección de libros raros de la Biblioteca Bodleian de Weston, en Oxford. Graduada en BA en Fotografia en London College of Communication (UAL) en 2017.
Ahora mismo está inmersa en un proyecto que va más allá de su trabajo personal como fotógrafa. Es la directora de Lakeside darkroom, situado en Thamesmead, concretamente a la vera del Southmere Lake, en Londres. Más informacion en www.lakesidedarkroom.com y en la cuenta de instagram @lakeside_darkroom
Artist Statement
My artistic practice revolves around crafting tactile sculptures using a unique liquid emulsion technique, aiming to delve into the realm of the haptic experience. I coat various natural and porous materials, meticulously mimicking the texture of human skin.
Through my work, I explore how the sense of touch influences our interpersonal connections and biological growth. I regard touch as paramount in human development, conducting extensive research spanning across scientific and philosophical domains since 2017 to inform my perspective.
I perceive the sense of touch and the liquid emulsion method as a gateway to understanding the creative process. Embracing uncertainty, serendipity, error, and repetition, I meticulously crafted a limited edition book entirely by hand in the darkroom. This book has found its place in esteemed library collections, including the Victorian and Albert Museum Library in London and the Bodleian Libraries: Weston Library Rare Books Collection in Oxford.
Each piece is meticulously created one by one, amidst total darkness, where chance encounters, mistakes, and the tactile sense intertwine. Embracing the unpredictability of this process brings about a sense of playfulness and experimentation.
CV
EDUCATION
2014 · 2017 · Graduated BA Photography at London College of Communication, UAL, London.
2004 · Course Graphic Design at AREA School, San Sebastian, Spain.
2002 · 2003 · Course on Photography Ivasfot School. San Sebastian, Spain.
1996 · 2001 · Graduated BA Pedagogy. Education. The University of Basque Country. San Sebastian. Spain
Additional fine-art photography education:
2013 · Fine-art Photography Workshop “Landscapes of globalization” with Xavier Ribas. Arteleku, San Sebastian. (Spain)
2013 · Fine-art Photography Workshop with Jose Manuel Navia. “Is Photography easy?”. Cabo de Gata. (Spain)
2013 · Fine-art Photography Workshop with David Jimenez “What an image holds”. Arteleku
2012 · Fine-art Photography Workshop Taller de Oscar Molina, “Behind the camera”. Arteleku
2012 · Fine-art Photography Workshop · with de Eduardo Momeñe “Photographic vision” Cabo de Gata (Spain)
2004 · Workshop specialised on Interior Design and Property Photography at Efti PhotoSchool. Madrid.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2023 · Experimental Festival Guest Artist · Giving Liquid emulsion Workshops and Talks : CONF. Reconceptualizing Institutional Structures: Women’s Perspectives with Dale Rio, Naroa Pérez, Susan Patrice, Anne Ede
2022 · Experimental Photo Festival Curator at “Mistake, Chance and Repetition” Online Exhibtion.
2022 · Curatorspace Bursary for The trail of Touch Project · Porcelain Pieces ·
2022 · On March 5, 2022, I conducted a workshop on liquid emulsion at the Photographic Society of Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian.
2021 · Now · Founder-Director at Lakeside Darkroom (Bow Arts Lakeside centre Thamesmead London)
2021-2022 · Mentor at The Photography Foundation (London)
2020-2022 · Photography Technician at Chan Photographic Imaging (London)
2020· 2021 · Mentor at UAL, Mentoring UAL visual arts graduates.
2020 · Photographer and Communication Manager at -Unto this Last- Furniture Design Company
2018 · 2020 · Photography Technician at Photofusion Brixton, London.
2017 · 2022 · Art Photographer and Researcher. Working on Trail of Touch project.
2017 · Photography Assistant with Almudena Romero at her Pop Up Collodion darkroom commissioned by the Photography Archive and Research Centre. LCC, UAL
2016-2017: Photography Technician at LCC. During my studies at the London College of Communication, I worked as a photography technician assistant for outreach department workshops with young adults, at summer and spring school photography workshops.
2015 · Photographer at Headbox. Property Photographer. https://www.headbox.com/en/spaces/71-book-whole-bar-floripa-london
2014 · Photography Assistant with John Brewer. Wet collodion Workshop at E5 Process darkroom.
2010 · 2013 · Darkroom manager and photography technician at Arteleku.
2010 · 2013 · Photography Department Project manager at Arteleku– a contemporary art institution. San Sebastian, Spain.
2009 · 2014 · Freelance Photographer specialized in interior design photography.
2008 · 2009 · Studio Photographer and retoucher at MyZ Studio Oiartzun. Interior and furniture photo studio.
2007 · Graphic designer at Arista.
2002 · 2006 · Street and Food Photographer in different local magazines as The Balde, Essete, Donosti Aisia.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2022 · Training for Female Photography technicians at Lakeside Darkroom.
2021 · Photography Workshop Leader: Liquid emulsion workshops, at Darkroom London.
2020 · Photography Workshop Leader: Liquid emulsion workshops, 1-2-1 Classes. Photofusion.
2015 · 17 · Photography workshop Assistant at London College of Communication, UAL. For the Outreach department, Summer and spring schools.
2009 · 11 · Course leader, Photography art projects. 3 academic years. San Sebastian Town Hall free courses for adults. (Part-time)
ART PHOTOGRAPHER WORK · TALKS · RESIDENCIES · INTERVIEWS
2020 · Artist Talk at Experimental Festival Barcelona. January 2020.
2020 · Artist Talk at San Telmo Museum, Book presentation. Presentación del Libro Trail of Touch en el Museo San Telmo de San Sebastian, junto con la Collección de fotolibros de Gabriela Cendoya-Bergareche.
2019 · Artistic Residency at Revela-t Catalonia · Residencia artística REVELAT Junio 2019 June
INTERVIEWS · ENTREVISTAS · Textos
2007 · Diario Vasco · Exposición en Lezo
2018 · Punto de Fuga:
2018 · Wake up screaming online magazine
2020 · Interview Gara Newspaper, Spanish
2020 · The Collective Magazine
2020 · https://nosabemoscomo.com/la-nostalgia-tactil-de-naroa-perez-iguaran/
2020 · Gabriela Cendoya Bergareche BLOG Fotolibros The Trail of Touch FotoLibro
2021 · If We Film · Female Film Photographers interview: https://www.ifwefilm.com/2021/02/01/female-film-photographers-you-should-know-naroa-perez-2/
ARTWORK IN COLLECTIONS
Trail of Touch BOOK is already in Artbook collections.
1. V&A MUSEUM library art book collection, London, UK (Open access to public) V&A library catalogue and available to be requested by the public.
2. Gabriela Cendoya Bergareche photobook art collection, San Telmo MUSEUM, San Sebastian EH (Open access to public)
3. London College of Communication, UAL UNIVERSITY, library art book collection. London, UK (Students and academics research)
4. Baylor UNIVERSITY, art book library, Waco, Texas, USA, (Students and academics research)
5. Bodleian Libraries: Weston Library, rare books collection, Oxford UNIVERSITY, UK, (Students and academics research)
6. UNIVERSITY of Dundee (library), Scotland.
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibitions
2004 · March - “Análisis” at Photogallery Hiru.di (San Sebastian Basque Country Spain)
2004 · April - “Argijolasak” at Restaurant Kazkazuri, (San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain)
2004 · June - “Análisis” at El Muro Bar (San Sebastian - Donostia)
2004 · July - “Análisis” at Mutriku’s Culture house, Mutriku (Basque Country, Spain)
2004 · August - ”Argijolasak” at Photogallery Hiru.di (San Sebastian)
2006 · July - Aug - “Análisis and “Barberia” at Kursaal cafe (San Sebastian)
2007 · Feb - “Análisis” at Lezo’s Culture House (Lezo, Basque Country, Spain)
Group Exhibitions
2022 · May-Aug · The trail of Touch. The womb and the cushion at ME 2 U: A collective manifesto; Baesianz presents the 2022 Bow Open. 2022 · August · Exhibition at Experimental Photography Festival Barcelona ·
2018 · Feb - ANÁLISIS · “I As another”. Organised by Wave Collective at Carmel by the green at Bethnal Green, London. Feb 2018
2018 · May - TOUCH Project · The Other House Exhibition · SEAS Socially Engaged Art Salon · Brighton UK.: 2018
2018 · Oct - The Trail of Touch Project · at E5 Process as part of The Photomoth East London Photography Festival.
2017 · Nov - TOUCH project · Organised by Wave Collective at Carmel by the green at Bethnal Green, London
2017 · Dec - TOUCH project · Embrace your Inner Chaos: collective exhibition at Total Refreshment Centre. London.
Profiles:
Lensculture: https://www.lensculture.com/naroa-perez
Vimeo profiile: https://vimeo.com/user69758084
UAL Insight : https://www.arts.ac.uk/partnerships/outreach/insights/into-uni/meet/meet-naroa-perez-iguaran
ARTS THREAD https://www.artsthread.com/profile/naroaperez/
ARTELEKU http://2013.arteleku.net/es/naroa-p%C3%A9rez.html
EUSKONEWS https://www.euskonews.eus/zbk/266/naroa-perez-iguaran/ar-0266016001E/#
SAREA https://www.sarea.euskadi.eus/aa95-detalle/es/contenidos/evento/2020052015255022/es_def/index.shtml
