Ed Sykes is a photographer and visual artist based in London, UK.
Ed’s practice focusses on landscape and changes to the environment as a result of natural processes and human activity. This approach is in conjunction with a re-working of photographic materials and a disruption of traditional photographic production. The processes and effects of climate change are often replicated during the image making process itself. 1000 Degrees used a blow torch to melt photographic negatives at a heat similar to the furnaces that propelled the Industrial Revolution. The work Hanging By A Thread pushed this same notion to the picture frames which were sourced secondhand and then the wooden surrounds were charred in a similar way to the subject matter of wildfires. Other approaches have involved sanding and abrasion echoing the effects of coastal erosion and also the use of soluble paper, the dissolution of an image in water, mimicking flood damage.
Recently a recipient of Arts Council DYCP grant for a project titled Eco Matters and Sustainable Processes. This saw Ed travel along East Coast and some of Europe’s fastest eroding coastlines, embedding a new creative approach to climate change, environment and the anthropocene. In 2021 he was nominated for Prix Pictet Award with his series 1000 Degrees a response to the historical, industrial exploitation of natural resources in UK.
Exhibitions & Awards
2024 Hundred Years Gallery, London. Rock series.
2023 Format Festival, Derby / BOP Festival, Bristol/ Fotofestiwal, Lodz - The Sustainable Photobook - The Space Between Us
2023 Boo’s Closet Gallery, London. Hanging By A Thread.
2022 Photofusion Salon, London. Rock series.
2022 Photo London, Lucy Bell Gallery
2022 East Meets West exhibition, Format Festival, Derby.
2021 Prix Pictet Award (Fire) nomination, 1000 Degrees
2021 Arts Council England, DYCP grant. Eco Matters & Sustainable Processes
2020 Friends of Derek, Lucy Bell Gallery, St Leonards
2018 Photoworks, Open Forum, Brighton Photo Biennial
2018 Photoworks, Collaborate, Truman Brewery, London
2017 Photo Scratch, Four Corners Gallery, London
2017 The Museum of the Real and Odd, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art
2016 London Creative Network, Photofusion
2016 Music Now, The Printspace. London
2015 Photofusion Salon, London
Workshops & Talks
2023 Impressions Gallery, Bradford - Sustainable photobook making workshop
2023 Format Festival, Derby - Sustainable photobook making workshop
2020 Photographers United, mentor
2018 London Metropolitan University, lecturer
2017 Photo Forum, The Printspace, talk
2016 Photo Forum, The Printspace, talk
2016- 2018, Olympus Outreach Programme, workshop leader.
2012 Photofusion, mentor
2009 Solent University, Associate lecturer
Education
PTLLS Teaching qualification
Printmaking (part-time) London College of Communications
Photojournalism Post Grad, London College of Communications
Photography BA (Hons) Nottingham Trent University