Chemical Histories of Photography | eikones – Center for the Theory and History of the Image

What does the photographic picture share with artificial dyes, fertilizer, and prescription drugs? Inspired by the town of Basel’s place as a world middle of the chemical trade, this symposium investigates pictures’s chemical relations, tracing the networks formed by materials sources, industrial infrastructure, and scientific experience, in addition to the ecological legacies of photographic manufacturing. The symposium will conclude with an artist speak and workshop led by photographer and researcher Alice Cazenave (Goldsmiths, University of London), an advisor to the UK-based collective Sustainable Darkroom and present Ansel Adams Fellow on the Center for Creative Photography on the University of Arizona.

Thursday, October 23

• Visit to the Fotosammlung Ruth und Peter Herzog on the Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett with curator Michalis Valaouris (for invited contributors, 4:00–5:00 pm)

• Opening Remarks (6:00–6:20 pm)

• Session 1: Industrial Ecologies (6:20–7:50 pm)
  • “Daughter of Coal,” Michelle Henning (University of Liverpool)
  • “Chemical Image Factories: The Case of Cibachrome,” Stephan Graf (Photo-Fribourg)
• Apéro (7:50 pm)

Friday, October 24

• Coffee and Pastries
• Session 2: Colonial Chemistry (10:00–11:30 pm)
  • “Chemical Frontiers: Photography, Fertilizer, and Settler Colonialism,” Siobhan Angus (Carleton University)
  • “‘Ego Ipso.’ Hermann-Kummler-Frey’s Brazilian Photographs between Chemical History and Colonial Image Production,” Denise Bertschi (Collegium Helveticum)
• Lunch (12:00–1:30 pm)
• Session 3: Chemical Images (2:00–3:30 pm)
  • “Photography’s Metabolism: Eastman Kodak’s Petrochemical Turn,” Kevin Hong (Yale University)
  • “Color Sells: The Art and Techniques of Advertising Photography,” Estelle Blaschke (University of Basel)
• Coffee Break (3:30–4:30 pm)
• Artist Talk (4:30–6:00 pm):
  • “Here Many Worlds Collide: Toxic Affinities of Photographic Silver,” Alice Cazenave (Goldsmiths, University of London)
• Apéro (6:00–6:45 pm)

Saturday, October 25

• Chemigram Workshop for Invited Participants (10:00–12:30 pm)

Image: Hans Hinz, Ciba Farben, undated, chromogenic print. Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt.