Artist Statement
My practice explores the intersections of touch, nostalgia, and fear, engaging with photography not only as an image-making tool but as a tactile and conceptual medium. For over two decades, I have worked with darkroom processes, embracing mistake, chance, and repetition as guiding principles. These methods allow me to challenge conventional notions of control and perfection while foregrounding the vulnerability and resilience embedded in human experience.
Two long-term bodies of work embody these concerns. The Trail of Touch investigates how skin remembers and forgets, how tactile gestures convey empathy, and how photography can preserve or translate the haptic into visual form. Through handmade books and fragile photographic objects, I have sought to create a physical archive of emotional connection, a practice that has been recognized in public collections such as the V&A and the Bodleian Library.
In contrast, Reversed Fear confronts the invisible structures of fear that condition women’s presence in public space. By photographing nocturnal environments with expired E6 film, I invert fear’s compass, reclaiming spaces that women are taught to abandon. Each image is both a personal act of bravery and a demand for cultural change, insisting that fear must change sides.
Both projects are rooted in the same questions: How do we navigate vulnerability? How do we reclaim agency over what has been silenced or suppressed? Nostalgia and fear, touch and distance—these dualities shape my work, offering a space to pause, reflect, and reimagine.
At its core, my work seeks to create slow but profound change. By transforming fear into resistance, and touch into connection, I hope to contribute to a cultural shift—one that offers women new ways of seeing, being, and belonging.
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
2022 · Now · Director at Lakeside Darkroom
As the director of the darkroom and a practising photographer, I established a thriving community of creative professionals, actively promoted and conducted workshops, served as a mentor and educator, and developed my own artwork.
For the past three years, I have been responsible for the commercial, communication, and marketing aspects of the darkroom and its activities. This includes managing social media, email campaigns, and collaborations with industry-related businesses. As a photographer, I naturally oversee the visual identity, making full use of the darkroom and studio resources.
I also plan and organise events such as Photo Bites, exhibitions with our interns, and the internship programme, which welcomes new interns every three months. 2024 was an incredible year, and 2025 is already fully booked. Additionally, I handle purchasing, lead workshops, and ensure the darkroom is well-maintained and ready for members. We also hold weekly mentoring sessions to support our community.
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 · Development on my own projects.
2022 · On March 5, 2022, I conducted a workshop on liquid emulsion at the Photographic Society of Gipuzkoa in San Sebastian.
2021 · The start and development of 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
