Ancient Light
Lecture at Henry Moore Institute
‘Forces of Nature’ Symposium

In May, I was very pleased to participate in the ‘Ice and Light’ panel discussion, part of the ’Forces Of Nature’ symposium at the Henry Moore Institute. Jump to 2h22m to see my presentation, or watch the full symposium on this link.

More about our panel and the overall symposium below;

‘Ice and Light’
Chaired by Professor Sarah Casey, Lancaster University

‘Glacial Thinking: Art, Time and the Spectral Forces of Ice’
Dr Joanne ‘Bob’ Whalley, University of the Arts London

‘Digital Fractures: Visualising Environmental Change in Antarctica’
Liberty Quinn, artist

‘Ancient Light: Rematerialising The Astronomical Image’
Dr Melanie King, artist/curator

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For fifty years Ackling consistently made objects by burning wood – focusing sunlight through the lens of a hand-held magnifying glass to scorch repeated patterns of lines on the surface of card and wood. Best known for his work on driftwood collected from the beach at Weybourne near his home on the North Norfolk coast, later works feature discarded or low value materials of a more recent industrial past.

Casey’s recent work responds to the precarious nature of glacial archaeology, using sediments released from melting ice and drawings that are erased by the heat of alpine sun. Both artists explore the relationship between humans and their environment: between the earth-shaping forces of time, weather and geology and the agency of artists whose work is produced in collaboration with these processes.

Recent years have seen an efflorescence of art practices that engage with climate and the creative and destructive forces of nature. This symposium will address a wide variety of connected subjects such as artistic responses to coastal erosion, curatorial climate-focused challenges, the agency of materials, glacial engagements with contemporary art, the development of digital technologies, astronomical photography and interaction with fungal bodies.Residency at Passen-gers, LondonI am now Artist In Residence at Passen-gers at The Brunswick Centre in London. I will be in London at least once a week from the end of July until September 2025. Whilst at Passengers, I will be developing the In Praise of Raw Data project with Julie Hill and Dr Claudia Mignone. On the first two dates of the residency, I have been experimenting with chalk as a natural ‘bleach’ for cyanotype, with some success. I will document my development during the residency on Patreon. This activity is supported by research funding from Canterbury Christ Church University.

Duotone Cyanotype Workshop
Land Art Agency - Online
8 August, 2pm UK time
£45 - Book Here. (Online Workshop)

I have recently taken time out from leading in-person and online workshops to develop new processes, after repeating botanical cyanotype toning and plant based film developer workshops for many years. 

However, I am now pleased to say that I am offering a duotone (two colour) cyanotype workshop online with Land Art Agency. I will also share some of my recent experiments with chalk. Find out more on the Land Art Collective website, linked above.

Constellations
Solo Show at Albion House Ramsgate 
Extended until 31 Aug

My ‘Constellations’ solo exhibition at Albion House Ramsgate has been extended until 31 August. As the exhibition is in a hotel, the exhibition is open at most times of the day throughout the week.

It has been a fantastic experience showing a decades worth of art work orbiting my practice based PhD Ancient Light: Rematerialising The Astronomical Image. This exhibition is just a small fraction of the work.

Exhibition Information

Constellations comprises several projects by Ramsgate artist, Dr Melanie King. The artworks are presented in each ground floor room of Albion House, forming ‘constellations’ within the overall ‘universe’ of Kings’ artistic practice.

In Praise Of Raw Data

The In Praise of Raw Data project is a result of an ongoing collaboration between artist Dr Melanie King and Dr Claudia Mignone - an astronomer and science communicator at INAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Rome. This project highlights the beauty of raw data artefacts resulting from cosmic interactions with telescope sensors.

Ancient Light

Ancient Light arose from King’s recently completed practice-based PhD at the Royal College of Art. The project comprises a series of analogue photographs of the night sky, produced in several dark sky locations.

Lunar Portraits

Kings related project Lunar Portraits consists of a series of photographs using only light from the Full Moon to expose the image. Participants were asked to gaze up at the full moon whilst moonlight fell upon their face.

Ancient Light Book

My book ‘Ancient Light’ is currently stocked at Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool and Derby Museum of Making . It can also be bought online via XYZ Books who are based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Image: Ancient Light, Open Eye Gallery.

Support Me

Did you know that my Patreon page now operates as a searchable resource for my analogue photography experiments since 2020? On my Patreon page, you can find recipes and tutorials for most of the processes I use. I believe that it is important to keep this information free source, but if you’d like to support my practice I would welcome donations. All proceeds go towards the further development of my practice. Patreon  (£10 Subscription includes: Monthly postcard and regular tutorials and videos. There are lower tiers available.)

The postcard for August 2025 is a reproduction of my artwork: Saturn, Silver Gelatin Fibre Based Print, produced using coffee developer. This print will be in an upcoming exhibition in January 2026. The postcard is printed on sustainable bamboo paper, and the original image is by NASA.