In the Art Gallery on the second floor of the Jersey Museum, Jersey Heritage are currently exhibiting the wonderful Playing with Light exhibition. Curated by Lucy Layton, Jersey Heritage’s Exhibitions Curator, the exhibition celebrates and explores the science of light through a combination of interactive displays and artistic responses to the theme. Drawing on both the Jersey Heritage and Société Jersiaise collections, it features paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography.
The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive was delighted to collaborate on the project, providing a number of photographs which form part of the wider exhibition.
In this article, I shall explore the different ways in which SJPA photographs have contributed to Playing with Light, while also highlighting some of my favourite examples included in the exhibition.
Wall Display
The most prominent display of photographs in the exhibition is the fantastic 12-image wall display. After reviewing around 50 photographs from our collection which responded to the theme of light in different ways, Lucy selected a final group of 12 for inclusion in the exhibition. These were subsequently re-scanned at high resolution and supplied for display.
The exhibition team have brought these images together beautifully. Although the photographs vary in subject, composition and mood, the arrangement allows them to flow naturally, with visual elements linking one image to the next. Together, these different representations and interpretations of light create a display which feels both varied and well balanced.
Stereoscope Images
Another fascinating element of the exhibition is the display of stereoscopic photographs, which visitors can view through a traditional wooden stereoscope. From a collection of several hundred stereoscopic photographs held within the archive, a concise selection of local Jersey views was made. These were chosen as examples which we felt were both particularly interesting and produced some of the most dramatic three-dimensional effects.
The display offers a wonderful opportunity for visitors to engage directly with high-quality reproductions of photographic material from our collection and experience these images as they were intended to be viewed. Stereoscopic photographs remain some of the most intriguing items within the archive, making their inclusion in the exhibition especially pleasing.
Supporting Images
Throughout the exhibition, photography is used to support and illustrate many of the themes, ideas and historical contexts being explored. As part of this, a number of SJPA photographs have been incorporated throughout the displays.
Being used both to help explain concepts and as exhibits in their own right demonstrates the remarkable versatility of photography as a medium. It also highlights the breadth of material held within our collection.
Favourite Images
One of the most enjoyable aspects of contributing to Playing with Light was revisiting a wide range of photographs from the collection and considering how they responded to the theme of light. Whilst many excellent images were ultimately included in the exhibition, the following are a few personal favourites.
SJPA-AC-002-AE-B-04: View of Man in Vinchelez Lane, c.1920. Photographer unknown. Part of the Dr. Arthur Mourant Collection.
This is one of my favourite stereoscopic photographs included in the stereoscope display. Whilst an interesting photograph in its own right, it is when viewed through the stereoscope that it really comes to life.
The three-dimensional effect is particularly impressive, making it one of the standout examples on display.
SJPA/000331: Church Interior, St Peter’s Parish Church, c.1900. Albert Smith
This striking interior view of St Peter’s Parish Church demonstrates the powerful effect light can have within an architectural space. With light dramatically streaming through the windows thanks to the use of a very long exposure, it draws the viewer’s eye through the image and helps emphasise the scale and character of the building.
What I particularly like about this photograph is the way in which light becomes one of the main subjects of the image, transforming an otherwise quiet interior scene into something highly atmospheric.
SJPA/033428: Firework Display at Night During St Aubin’s Fête, with Fireworks Being Launched from St Aubin’s Harbour, 1933
This photograph shows light in a very different way. Through the use of a long exposure, the movement of the fireworks has been recorded as sweeping trails across the night sky, creating an almost abstract image.
What I enjoy most about this photograph is the way it captures something that cannot be fully appreciated with the naked eye.
SJPA/035626: View of Tree-lined Jersey Lane, 1906. George Francis De Faye
Perhaps my favourite image included in the exhibition is this woodland scene, where shafts of sunlight break through the trees and illuminate the path below. The contrast between the bright beams and the darker woodland creates a particularly striking effect.
It is a wonderful example of how light can completely transform an ordinary scene, producing a photograph that feels both dramatic and memorable.
Conclusion
Playing with Light is a wonderful project that we at the SJPA are delighted to be a part of. The exhibition not only demonstrates the many ways in which light can be explored through art and science but also highlights the remarkable variety of material held within both the Jersey Heritage and Société Jersiaise collections.
It is well worth a visit for anyone with an interest in photography, art or science.
By Max Le Feuvre, Assistant Archivist, SJPA
