Lecture Room 309
A panel discussion with University of Brighton postgraduate photography students and staff about realising different practice-based research projects as publications.
The MA Photography course at the University of Brighton includes a dedicated module that supports students to realise a practice-based research project in the form of a publication. Realisation can take various forms; as a book or magazine, pamphlet, newspaper or a collection of postcards. The historical context of photography in the printed page is considered, followed by presentations and workshops on contemporary approaches to photobooks. In this panel discussion, students present how they developed their projects and visibility for their work.
Rachel K Gillies is an artist, educator and writer. She is currently Senior Lecturer in Photography at the University of Brighton, UK and previously Senior Lecturer and Course Co-ordinator of Photography at Dunedin School of Art, NZ. Her practice engages with contemporary photography as it responds to digital process and forefronts an abstract aesthetic, asking what else can photography look like. Recent work includes the ongoing project Do penguins dream of weather balloons (2025-) and the chapter ‘Mobile Photography’ in the Companion to Photography (Stephen Bull, ed.) Wiley and Blackwell (2018).
Yung Hsiang Chou (b. Taiwan, 1994) is a photographic artist currently completing an MA in Photography at the University of Brighton. To him, photography is a meditative practice—an act of wandering, observing, and contemplating impermanence. His work often turns to the overlooked and hidden aspects of daily life, while also exploring the subtle relationship between humans and nature, reaching into the spiritual, the unconscious, and dreams.
Zixuan Mai is a photographer from Foshan, China, currently living and studying in Brighton. Working primarily with analog cameras and walking as a method, she uses film as a medium to slow down, observe, and engage with the quiet rhythms of everyday life. Her work explores themes of lifestyle, space, and the subtle interactions that shape our daily environments. Through quiet images and considered framing, she invites viewers to pause and attend to what is often overlooked.
Simon Roth is a Brighton-based photographer, completing an MA in photography at the University of Brighton, 2025. His work explores themes of contemporary society, wealth, and their historical roots in empire, examining their lasting impact on people and the environment. Through his lens, he seeks to capture the overlooked and narratives that provoke thought.
