My artistic practice is lens based and I work with photography and moving-image to explore temporality, place and memory. The work contemplates the functionality of the environment and how landscapes incorporate human interventions essential to modern society and everyday living. I am interested in how cultural, societal and economic factors construct our perception of the encountered world and consider the complex and dialectical relationship between nature and necessity.
I work with analogue photography and I am especially interested in traditional processes such as cyanotypes and more recently alternative darkroom practice using natural chemicals and sustainable materials. These processes provide a tangible experience with nature, objects and photography and create a unique product incorporating memory and temporality within the process.
Since completing my masters degree in photography in 2020, I have been working as an artist facilitator, planning and delivering workshops to organizations in London and Sussex. Within this framework, I am interested in our sense of belonging and personal history and my work has developed a participatory approach working with others to explore their heritage and personal narratives using photographs, writing and film.
I currently divide my time between personal projects, commissions, mentoring and working with community groups and art organisations in Sussex as a photographer and artist facilitator. My focus is on using photography as a theraputic activity and shared experience and I have worked with The Brighton Women’s Centre, Beyond the Streets Charity, Survivors Network, Terrence Higgins Trust, The Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership, The Brighthelm Community Centre, One Church, Just Life, Emmaus, DV8 Sussex College, ONCA Gallery and The Basement.
EXHIBITIONS
Group Shows.
2022 - The Waiting Room - SHUTTERHUB, Yearbook
2021 - Spoilt by Carelessness - It’s Not Your Birthday But. Competition Winners - Digital Exhibition
2020 - Like an Iris, IRIS Collective, PhotoFringe 2020. Brighton.
2020 - Spoilt by Carelessness - Brighton University MA Photography Digital Exhibition.
2018 - Intermission - Brighton Biennale/Photofringe, Brighton.
2018 - Kings House - The Museum of Ordinary People - Brighton.
2018 - Expectations and Lessons in Forgiveness, Artist Open Houses, Brighton.
2017 - Expectations and Lessons in Forgiveness, The Naked Eye Gallery, Brighton.
2015 - Her, She, Anyone But Me, Candid Arts Trust, London.
2012 - Her, She, Anyone But Me, Truman Brewery, London.
2011 - Accidents and Revelations, The Stills Gallery, Edinburgh.
2011 - Graduate Exhibition, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh.
COMMUNITY EXHIBITIONS
Curator/Artist Facilator.
2021 - Picture Littlehampton, Littlehampton Museum.
2018 - Student Artist Open House at DV8 Sussex, Brighton.
2016 - NOvember, Beyond the Streets Charity, Southampton.
2015 - The Selfie Project, The Brighton Women’s - Brighton.
2015 - NOvember, Beyond the Streets Charity. Southampton.
2015 - Supper Club at The Basement, Brighton.
2014 - Supper Club at The Basement, Brighton.
2013 - A Hundred Days, A Hundred Nights, Emmaus Charity, Brighton.
2012 - My Garden Project, The Brighthelm Community Partnership, Brighton.
AWARDS/GRANTS
2021 - Selected as one of the top three artist as part of The 3am Project with It’s Not Your Birthday But.
2018 - Photographic Print Artist of the Year Nominee, Artist Open Houses, Gemini Prints.
2011 - Shortlisted for the Anno books Art and Design Competition.
2011 - Recipient of the Student Grant Initiative - Edinburgh Napier University.
PROJECT WEBSITES AND INTERVIEWS.
2020: MAP6 Collective Guest Artist Feature - The Quiet Place - https://www.map6.co.uk/news-and-features/2020/8/16/featured-hannah-o-hara
2020: PhotoFringe 2020 - Like an Iris, IRIS Photography Collective. https://2020.photofringe.org/exhibitions/like-an-iris
2019: Brighton University MA Photography Digital Graduate Exhibition - https://artandmediapostgraduateshow.brighton.ac.uk/hannah-ohara-photography-ma/
2018: The Naked Eye Gallery - Interview ‘Expectations and Lessons in Forgiveness. https://www.nakedeyegallery.com/blog/2017/9/29/meet-the-photographer-hannah-ohara
2018: The Museum of Ordinary People - Brighton Fringe. https://www.museumofordinarypeople.com/museum