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The Darkness of Enlightenment
N.Smith Gallery, 3 27 May

The Darkness of Enlightenment: N.Smith Gallery

Past viewing_room
  • 'My work attempts to highlight the mistakes, mistranslations and loss of knowledge in the social documentation of Kaurna culture by...
    Self portrait, 2021 (On loan to The National Portrait Gallery, London, UK)

    'My work attempts to highlight the mistakes, mistranslations and loss of knowledge in the social documentation of Kaurna culture by European colonists'

    Kaurna artist James Tylor uses the historical 19th century photographic process of the Becquerel daguerreotype to create contemporary images that re-contextualise the representation of Australian society and history. Photography was historically used to document First Nations Peoples and the European colonisation of Australia.

     

    'The Darkness of Enlightenment starts as an idea. In this case, it's the interaction between Kaurna and the colonists who had documented language on the frontier of South Australia. I'm predominantly a landscape photographer, so l use landscape to talk about that interaction, visiting places where that transaction of language happened and areas that were transmission points between the colonists and Kaurna.' – James Tylor

     

    These 16 daguerreotypes extend James' installation of daggeureotypes in the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony at the National Gallery of Australia.

     

    Optional leather and kangaroo skin cases are available for $550.

  • James Tylor, The Darkness of Enlightenment, 2021
    Artworks

    James Tylor

    The Darkness of Enlightenment, 2021

    18 Daguerreotypes (10 x 12.5 cm each)
    19 cast bronze objects (various sizes)

    SOLD

    Acquired by The National Gallery of Australia

  • James Tylor, Karrakarlingga Carrackalinga 1, 2022
    Artworks

    James Tylor

    Karrakarlingga Carrackalinga 1, 2022

    Becquerel Daguerreotype
    10 x 12 cm

    $5,500.00 + case

    Enquire / more info
    %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EKarrakarlingga%20Carrackalinga%201%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Karrkunga Ochre Cove, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Karrkunga Ochre Cove, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EKarrkunga%20Ochre%20Cove%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Pangkarla Normanville, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Pangkarla Normanville, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      $ 5,500.00
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EPangkarla%20Normanville%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Kauwayarlungga Myponga Beach 1, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Kauwayarlungga Myponga Beach 1, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EKauwayarlungga%20Myponga%20Beach%201%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Karrakarlingga Carrackalinga 2, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Karrakarlingga Carrackalinga 2, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
    • James Tylor Kauwayarlungga Myponga Beach 2, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Kauwayarlungga Myponga Beach 2, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EKauwayarlungga%20Myponga%20Beach%202%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Wangkunthila Washpool 2, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Wangkunthila Washpool 2, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
    • James Tylor Yartakurlangga Rapid Bay 2, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Yartakurlangga Rapid Bay 2, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      $ 5,500.00
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EYartakurlangga%20Rapid%20Bay%202%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Wangkunthila Washpool, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Wangkunthila Washpool, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
    • James Tylor Witawardli Selleck Beach, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Witawardli Selleck Beach, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EWitawardli%20Selleck%20Beach%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Yartakurlangga Rapid Bay 1, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Yartakurlangga Rapid Bay 1, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EYartakurlangga%20Rapid%20Bay%201%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Yaityakauwingga Second Valley 2, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Yaityakauwingga Second Valley 2, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
    • James Tylor Yaityakauwingga Second Valley 1, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Yaityakauwingga Second Valley 1, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
    • James Tylor Yaitakauwingga Second Valley 4, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Yaitakauwingga Second Valley 4, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
      Enquire / more info
      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EJames%20Tylor%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EYaitakauwingga%20Second%20Valley%204%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EBecquerel%20Daguerreotype%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E10%20x%2012%20cm%3C/div%3E
    • James Tylor Tarniyandingga Moana, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Tarniyandingga Moana, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
    • James Tylor Yaityakauwingga Second Valley 3, 2022 Becquerel Daguerreotype 10 x 12 cm
      James Tylor
      Yaityakauwingga Second Valley 3, 2022
      Becquerel Daguerreotype
      10 x 12 cm
  • The making of The Darkness of Enlightenment.

    Here, James takes us through the process of creating The Darkness of Enlightenment, his new series of daguerreotypes for Ceremony that explores 19th century European recordings of Kaurna language and culture during the British colonisation of the Kaurna nation in South Australia.

     
    Photograph of James Tylor in his studio exposing the silver plate to iodine gas to make it light senstive

    1. Exposing the silver plate to iodine gas to make it light sensitive.

    Detail of a proof sheet of 12 daguerreotypes by James Tylor

    2. Exposing the daguerreotypes using the contact printing method.

    James Tylor, in olive chinos, grey knit and black and white Adidas trainers, reaches down to touch one of 6 daguerreotypes exposing in the sunshine

    3. The Becquerel developing method of exposing the daguerreotype in the UV light of the sun.

    Detail of the blue flame of a blow torch heating the daguerreotype

    4. Heating the daguerreotype with a blowtorch during the gold guilding to stablise the image.

     

    Photograph of James Tylor heating the silver plate during the gold gilding process

    5. Heating the silver plate during the gold gilding process.

    Detail of James Tylor's hand holding a finished daguerreotype photographic plate

    6. Inspecting the finished daguerreotype, before sealing the image behind museum glass.

    Photo graph of James Tylor sealing the silver plate of the daguerreotype behind glass

    7. Sealing the silver plate of the daguerreotype behind glass.

    Photograph of James Tylor looking at the polished silver plates

    8. Looking at the polished silver plates.

  • Recent museum exhibitions.

    • 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony, National Gallery of Australia | Touring Nationally
      Exhibitions

      4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony

      National Gallery of Australia | Touring Nationally 26 Mar 2022 - 12 May 2024
      'Ceremony is testament that our culture has survived – not only over the many thousands of years but, particularly, the last couple of hundred years – because of its capacity...
    • James Tylor: From An Untouched Landscape, George Eastman Museum | USA
      Exhibitions

      James Tylor: From An Untouched Landscape

      George Eastman Museum | USA 15 Jan - 5 Jun 2022
      In his artistic practice, James Tylor highlights under-told and often unseen histories of Aboriginal peoples. The landmass now known as Australia has been known by many names to many distinct...
    • Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State, Art Gallery of South Australia
      Exhibitions

      Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State

      Art Gallery of South Australia 4 Mar - 5 Jun 2022
      Warpulyainthi is a site specific artwork that responds to the 2022 theme, Free/State. South Australia prides itself on being a ‘free state’ where no convicts were settled or used for...

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