Join us in an exploration of the darkroom "where darkness and the occasional presence of light is the fundamental, transformational force"

Join us for an in-conversation between Jess Holdengarde and Morwenna Kearsley exploring the darkroom as a space within their practices.

Drawing on their respective projects at The University of Stirling this year, they will reflect on analogue photographic processes, interdisciplinary methodologies, and how darkroom encounters shape artistic inquiry and interdisciplinary research methods.

There will be an opportunity after the talk to view Jess’s new exhibition, created during her time as the University of Stirling Artist in Residence.

Banner Images © Morwenna Kearsley and ©Jess Holdengarde

Meet Jess

Jess Holdengarde is a South African lens-based artist living on the Isle of Lewis, with a studio based in Glasgow. Their practice examines photography's role in responding to environmental, social, and economic crises, exploring how image-making can inspire critical reflection and hopeful action within the polycrisis.

Working across photography, writing, sound, and moving image, Holdengarde brings together experimental darkroom processes, site-specific methodologies, and embodied forms of inquiry, weaving queer methodologies and environmental concerns into their practice. Their projects frequently emerge through collaborative and collective processes, cultivating spaces for shared knowledge, experimentation, and dialogue.

Holdengarde has exhibited internationally across Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, and the UK. In 2024, they were awarded the Verzasca Foto Artist-in-Residence programme in Switzerland and presented their first major solo exhibition at Stills: Centre for Photography in Edinburgh. For 2025–26, they are the Artist-in-Residence at the University of Stirling and are supported by the innovation and policy project FORTH2O to develop a new moving-image commission, with mentorship and support from LUX Scotland and Hydro Nation.

jessholdengarde.com

Meet Morwenna

Morwenna Kearsley is a visual artist and researcher based in Glasgow. Primarily working with photography, text and moving image, her research positions the interior of the camera and the darkroom as interconnected, revelatory spaces where darkness and the occasional presence of light is the fundamental, transformational force.

She is currently a PhD candidate at the Centre for the Sciences of Place and Memory at the University of Stirling, where she is researching the role of darkness in the construction of memories and photographs.

She has worked as a lecturer in photography at The Glasgow School of Art and at Cumbria University and is a longstanding tutor for Stills School (Edinburgh). Recent exhibitions include APPARATUS, StrangeField (2024), Perilous, Glasgow Project Rooms (2022), Faux Posters, Ester Krumbachová Retrospective, Czech Republic (2021), Ambit: Photographies from Scotland, Stills, Edinburgh (2019). She was selected for Plat(t)form, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Switzerland (2025) and has undertaken many residencies including at Street Level Photoworks (Glasgow) Cove Park (Argyll), Perth Museum (Scotland) and Fondazione Fotografia, Modena (Italy).

https://morwennagracekearsley.com/

Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling

This event is open to all and will be held in Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling. The venue is accessible, with blue badge parking to the front and rear of the building. Find out more about our disability access.

If you'd like to discuss access to the galleries and how we might make your visit more accessible, please email us at Art.Collection@stir.ac.uk or phone us at 0178646 6050.

There is car and bike parking to the front and rear of Pathfoot Building, and two electric car charging points to the rear of Pathfoot. Car parking is free for your first two hours on campus, and charged (via Ringgo) after that. Visit our getting here page for more travel information.

The Art Collection - our hosts

We are delighted to be parterning with the University Art Collection again this year, and delighted they will bring Jess and Morwenna together for this event.

The Art Collection have supported and encouraged the festival from our early days and worked with us to deliver our shared aims of developing skills, inspiring cerativity and building community.

Our Artists, Sponsors and Partners

Huge thanks to all of our artists, sponsors and partners whose support means we can continue to deliver a programme of events and exhibitions that is free and inclusive.

Description supplied by the event organiser.