Sally Waterman

Sally Waterman’s interdisciplinary media arts practice is concerned with the interpretation of literature into self-portraiture. She creates poetic still and moving image works that explore issues of female subjectivity, memory and identity, drawing upon writers such as Henry James, Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf. Her doctoral research used T.S Eliot’s 1922 poem, ‘The Waste Land’ as an explorative text to examine her elusive self-representational strategies and interpretative methods, culminating in a collection of photographic and video installations (2005-2010). Waterman re-invents the source material through a fragmentary re-scripting exercise, seeking autobiographical associations with certain images, themes, characters or conceptual ideas. Indeed, the chosen literary text functions as a mechanism for self-representation, enabling the recollection and re-imagining of past trauma. Difficult, yet universal experiences of illness, conflict, loss and separation are illuminated through a cathartic transition from literature into visual art, where repressed memories are addressed through staging the self.

Born Isle of Wight, 1974. Lives in London
Education
2004-2010
PhD Media & Photography: Visualising 'The Waste Land': Discovering a Praxis of Adaptation, University of Plymouth
2006-2007
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE), University of Plymouth
1995-1996
MA Image & Communication, Goldsmiths College, University of London
1992-1995
BA (Hons) English with Design Arts, University of Plymouth
Exhibitions
Solo
2010
Waste Land, Scott Building, University of Plymouth 
2008
Waste Land: Game, Viewpoint Gallery, Plymouth College of Art 
2007
Still-Moving, Viewfinder Photography Gallery, London 
2005
Making Our Mark, Michael West Gallery, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
2005
Making Our Mark, Scott Gallery, University of Plymouth
2002
Hidden Within, Five Princelet Street Gallery, London
2001
Forest Fears, The Spitz Gallery, London
2000
The Other Side of a Mirror, Kingsgate Gallery, London
1997
Through the Banisters, Mary Ward Centre, London
1996
The Waves, Dimbola Lodge, Isle of Wight (former home of Julia Margaret Cameron)
Group/Film Screenings
2012
The Uncanny, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, Lancashire
2011
Crop, Avenue Gallery, School of the Arts, University of Northampton 
2011
2 to the Power of 10, Orange Dot Gallery, London
2011
Who is the Third Who Walks Always Beside You?, Micro Gallery, The Firestation, Windsor
2011
Last Friday Shorts, CoExist Gallery, TAP (Old Water Works), Southend-on-sea, UK: Screening of 'The Deep Sea Swell' and 'The Awful Daring of a Moment’s Surrender'
2011
Photo Book Works, 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, Oregon, USA
2010
Photo Book Works, Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, Colorado, USA
2010
Nightmare conference, Institute of English Studies, University of London: Screening of 'Turn of the Screw' and participation in panel discussion with filmmaker Sarah Miles
2010
Place, Identity and Memory, Reading Lasses Bookshop, Wigtown book Festival, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
2009
Place, Identity and Memory, Stranraer Museum, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
2009
Place, Identity and Memory, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland 
2009
Framing Time and Place: Repeats and Returns in Photography, Scott Gallery, University of Plymouth 
2009
Deptford Dark Nights, Art Services Un-incorporated, London. Screening of 'Urban Shadow Walks'  
2008
Immersion, LOCATE Research group, Scott Building, University of Plymouth (In association with the LAND/WATER Research Centre annual symposium ‘Landscape and Beauty’)
2008
The Art of Research: Research Narratives, Banqueting Hall, Chelsea College of Art & Design (In association with the 'Art of Research: Research Narratives' Symposium)
2008
What Happens Next? , Pitzhanger Gallery and Manor, London
2008
Inferno, The Shipwright’s Palace, Deptford, London: Premiere screening 
2008
Moving Out, LOCATE Research group, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth
2007
Regard, Viewpoint Gallery, Plymouth College of Art 
2007
Escapes, Viewpoint Gallery, Plymouth College of Art 
2007
Journey, Swansea Metropolitan University, Wales
2006
Uncurated, Faircharm Studios, Made in Deptford Festival, London
2006
Put Away Those Childish Things, Viewpoint Gallery, Plymouth College of Art 
2006
Renderyard Film Festival, Escape Art Gallery, London:  Screening of 'Passing Through'
2006
4th International Artist Book Exhibition, King St. Stephen Museum, Székesfehérvar, Hungary
2005
Imprint, Frame Zero, London, Photomonth (Joint show with Tessa Bunney)
2005
Journey, The Clifford Fishwick Gallery, University of Plymouth, (Exeter) 
2005
Made in Deptford Festival, Café Crème, London. Screening of 'Higher Ground/Underground'  
2005
Forest, Nottingham Castle Museum and Arts Gallery 
2005
Forest, Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Wales 
2005
Forest, York Art Gallery 
2004
Forest, Wolverhampton Art Gallery
2004
Trace Editions, Hirschl Contemporary Art, London
2004
Haunt, Sherborne House, Dorset
2003
Cross Currents, Michael West Gallery, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight 
2003
Earthbound, Arches, Resolution way, Deptford X, London
2001
Shifting Horizons, Derby Museum and Art Gallery 
2001
Shifting Horizons, School of Art, Burslem, Stoke on Trent 
2000
Shifting Horizons, Midland Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham 
1999
To the Lighthouse, Michael West Gallery, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight 
1998
Garden Gallery, Rope Store Gallery, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight 
1996
Similar Differences, Coastal Arts League, Half Moon Bay, California, USA 
1997
Similar Differences, Ostholstein Museum, Eutin, Germany
Commissions
2006-2007
Art & Adventure, London

Created experimental video for multimedia adaptation of Dante’s Inferno. Producer Roger Elsgood, Director William Richards

2003
Trace Gallery, Weymouth

Journey Home artist bookwork (35 in edition)

Since 1997
Millennium Images Ltd

Photographs used for book covers and editorial projects. Clients include: New Scientist, Faber & Faber, Random House, Routledge & Virago

1997
The Garden Gallery Project, ‘Cassies’, Billingham, Isle of Wight

Photographs made in response to private garden exhibition

1997
Bateau Ivre Theatre Company, London

Director of Photography: Provided visuals for set design and promotion

Bibliography
Books

Mayhew, H. (ed) (2001) The BritArt Directory, Sheffield: HMP.

Wells, L, Newton, K and Fehily,C. (eds) (2000) Shifting Horizons: Women's Landscape Photography Now, London: I. B. Tauris.

Exhibition Catalogues

Fourth International Artist's Book Exhibition (2006) Exhibition catalogue with text by Katalin Izinger and Buzz Spector, Székesfehérvár, Hungary: King St. Stephen Museum.

Forest (2004) Exhibition catalogue with essays by Caroline Smallwood, Yvonne Aburrow and Roger Kelly, Wolverhampton: Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Artist Bookworks

Je Veux (I Want) (2003) Paris: One Star Press. (700 editions, 230 artists)

Journey Home (2003) Weymouth: Trace Gallery. (35 editions)

Teaching
2011-2012
Visiting fellow: Centre for the Study of Cultural Memory, Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, University of London
2008-2011
Visiting artist for MA Photography: University of West London (formerly Thames Valley University)
2007-2008
Associate lecturer for BA Media Arts: University of Plymouth
2005-2009
Lecturer for BA Film Arts (Part time): Plymouth College of Art
2002-2011
Visiting artist and tutor for MA Image & Communication: Goldsmiths College, University of London
2001-2002
Visiting artist : Roger Asham Primary School, Walthamstow, London
1996-1998
Education Assistant: National Portrait Gallery, London (Assisted on Summer Photography workshops)
Collections

John M. Flaxman Library, The School of Art Institute of Chicago

King St. Stephen Museum, Székesfehérvar, Hungary

National Art Library, V&A, London

Penrose Library, University of Denver

Tate Library, London

University of Glasgow

University of Northampton

University of Plymouth

Yale Center for British Art, New York

Various private collections

Awards
2004-2010
PhD research fee remission scholarship, University of Plymouth
Membership
Since 2008
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Since 1996
Iris: The International Centre for Women in Photography, Loughborough University
Since 1996
Millennium Images Ltd, London
Curatorial Projects
March 2012
'Family Ties: Recollection and Representation': Organiser of conference and film screening event, Senate House, University of London, UK in association with the Centre for the Study of Cultural Memory, Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies. Keynote speakers include Rosy Martin and Prof. Marsha Meskimmon, Loughborough University. Film screening of '2001 - A Family Odyssey: Ophelia's Version' (2002) accompanied by film director, Sarah Miles in conversation with Dr. Lucy Reynolds
Artist Talks and Papers Presented
29th June 2012
'Re-imagining the family album through literary adaptation’, How History Enters Photography symposium, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany   
11th May 2012
Artist Talk, BA Photography, Plymouth College of Art
4th July 2011
Artist Talk, MA Image & Communication, Goldsmiths College, University of London
9th June 2011
Artist Talk, MA Photography, University of West London
16th February 2011
'Literary Transformations: A Self-Representational Arts Practice’, Centre for the Study of Women and Gender, University of Warwick
22nd June 2010
Artist Talk, MA Photography, Thames Valley University, London
29th April 2009
‘Picturing the Self in Metaphorical Waste-Land-Scapes’, LAND/WATER research seminar, University of Plymouth
5th July 2008
‘Exploring Concepts of Literary Interpretation and Self-representation within Arts Practice’, Face-to-Face: The Photographic (Self) Portrait conference, Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, University of London
8th May 2008
Artist Talk, MA Photography, Thames Valley University, London
30th April 2008
Artist Talk, ‘The Waste Land: PhD Work-in-Progress’ exhibition, Plymouth College of Art
16th April 2008
‘Manoeuvrability and A Game of Chess’, Media research seminar, Faculty of Arts, University of Plymouth
16th February 2008
Artist Talk, 'What Happens Next?’ exhibition, Pitzhanger Gallery and Manor, London
18th December 2007
Artist Talk, ‘Still-Moving’ exhibition, London Independent Photographers Group, Viewfinder Photography Gallery
22nd November 2007
Artist Talk, BA Photography, Plymouth College of Art
14th May 2007
‘Memento Mori: ‘PastPresent’ and ‘Fortune-telling/Re-telling’, Research seminar, Plymouth College of Art
2nd May 2007
‘Shadow Walks and The Unreal City Experience’, Research seminar, School of English, University of Plymouth
30th April 2007
Artist Talk, MA Image & Communication, Goldsmiths College, University of London
7th March 2007
‘PhD Work in Progress’, Media research seminar, Faculty of Arts, University of Plymouth
9th October 2006
‘A Research Journey’, BA Photomedia, Plymouth College of Art
12th June 2006
Artist Talk, MA Image & Communication, Goldsmiths College, University of London
15th February 2006
‘Interpreting T. S Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’, Media research seminar, Faculty of Arts, University of Plymouth
9th April 2005
Artist Talk, ‘Making our Mark’ exhibition, Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
1st December 2004
‘Introduction to PhD research project’, Media research seminar, Faculty of Arts, University of Plymouth
1st March 2004
Artist Talk, MA Image & Communication, Goldsmiths College, University of London
28th April 2003
Artist Talk, MA Image & Communication, Goldsmiths College, University of London
21st February 2003
Artist Talk, ‘Cross Currents’ exhibition, Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
24th June 2002
Artist Talk, MA Image & Communication Goldsmiths College, University of London
10th March 2002
Artist Talk, ‘Hidden Within' exhibition, Five Princelet Street Gallery, London (Part of the ‘Spit-Lit’ Spitalfields Women’s Literature Festival programme)