James Russell Cant is a photographer and film maker who draws on his background as a geographer, and to a degree his dissatisfaction with this paradigm. James uses still and moving images and sound to explore themes of subjectivity, identity, migration, memory and time.
James Russell Cant
James Cant has worked within the editorial, advertising and design sectors as well as making work within a fine art and research context. He studied BA Geography at CCAT in Cambridge followed by a BA in Photography at Blackpool and the Fylde College and then completed his MA in Photography at London College of Communication is 2009. Between 1995 and 2012 he worked with a range of clients, including The Independent on Saturday, The Times Magazine, The Saturday Guardians Magazine, Harpers and Queen, The Sunday Times Magazine and Esquire within an editorial context as well as advertising clients ranging from MBNA, Publicis and Ogilvy to Leo Burnett, M & C Saatchi and BBH.
His work has been exhibited by, amongst others, The Photographers’ Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Imperial War Museum, The Brighton Photo Biennial, Belfast Exposed, Counterpoints Arts, Ben Uri Galley, Photofusion, The Association of Photographers, Norwich University of the Arts, The London College of Communication and The West Front Centre in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. He showed regularly with Counterpoints Arts whose work addresses refugee experience and migration and was a frequent contributor to the Uncertain States photography collective.
Cant is the course leader for Photography BA at London Metropolitan University’s School of Art Architecture and Design and responsible for developing the longer term ethos and strategy for the Photography BA course. His role includes curriculum design, planning, delivery, assessment and quality assurance through internal verification processes ensuring parity across all the awards as well as managing a team of academics. He also covers pastoral care of students, student progression and retention. Generally, James is responsible for recruitment, raising the profile of the course and developing external partners and stakeholders.
Interests
James draws on my background as a geographer, and to a degree his dissatisfaction with this paradigm, and uses still and moving images and sound to explore themes of subjectivity, identity, migration, memory and time. He aims to set his own and others’ personal and individual experiences within wider critical frameworks.
From 2014 to 2018 James worked as a lecturer and senior lecturer on the BA Photography course and as MA Photography Subject Leader at Norwich University of the Arts. He has regularly acted as an external panel member at course validation and revalidation events for The Open University and is the external examiner for BA and MA Photography at The University of Bolton.
Can't is the course leader for Photography BA at London Metropolitan University’s School of Art Architecture and Design and responsible for developing the longer term ethos and strategy for the Photography BA course. His role includes curriculum design, planning, delivery, assessment and quality assurance through internal verification processes ensuring parity across all the awards as well as managing a team of academics. He also covers pastoral care of students, student progression and retention. Generally, James is responsible for recruitment, raising the profile of the course and developing external partners and stakeholders.
As a photographer and film maker, he draws on his background as a geographer, and to a degree his dissatisfaction with that paradigm, and uses still and moving image and sound to explore themes of subjectivity, identity, migration, memory and time. He aims to set his own and others’ personal and individual experiences within wider critical frameworks.
Santa Marina Palermo. Of The Land Of The Sea (2021)
Museo Palazzo Riso, Palermo: Shifting Stances July to December (2019)
Imperial War Museum Short Film Festival. London, Move Me Productions Film Festival. Belgium (2018)
West Front Nieuwpoort Belgium. A Remembrance. September, (2017)
APHE. Human Interfaces Research Group. Norwich University of the Arts. (Group Show).
Visualizing the Home. Artist Talk/Paper. University of Cumbria. (2017)
Uncertain States 2016. (Group Show) Mile End Art Pavilion, London (2016)
Norwich University of the Arts Research Display. Decisive and Other Moments.
Unexpected. Ben Uri Gallery. London (2016)
AMPS 2015. (Group Show) Photofusion. London.
(2015)
Uncertain States 2015. (Group Show) Mile End Art Pavilion, London.
Dis/placed Group Show. Shoreditch Town Hall. London (2015)
AMPS 2014. (Group Show) Photofusion. London.
Uncertain States 2014. (Group Show) The Cass School of Art. London.
The Decisive and Other Moments: Artist Talk. The Photographers’ Gallery
Brighton Photo Fringe Open. (Group Show) Short Listed Artists.
5 Contemporary Photography Collectives. (Group Show) Brighton Photo Biennial.
UCS Editions. (Group Show) Four Corners Gallery. London.
MRCF (Solo Exhibition) London.
How We Learn. (Group Show) Belfast Exposed. Belfast.
Divided To The Ocean. (Solo Exhibition) The Association of Photographers
Uncertain States Open Call Judge 2017
Association of Photographers lecturer of the Year 2022
Leica Society Photographic Competition Judge 2023
MA Photography Sheffield Hallam University February 2022 ongoing
BA Photography University of Bolton December 2017 to November 2022 MA Photography University of Bolton December 2017 to November 2022
01.11.2022 to 17.01.2023 The Open University - University Centre Leeds BA Photography Top Up Revalidation
01.05 2021 to 31.07.2021 The Open University Online Photography Course External Assessor 04.02.19 City of Liverpool College, Art & Design BA Validation
19.04.17 Plymouth College of Art/OU BA (Hons) Photography Revalidation
16.02.16 Leeds College of Art/OU Validation of MA Curation Practices
10.15 – 03.16 NUA Learning and Teaching Strategy Group
17.03.15 Plymouth College/OU Validation of the MA Photography
2018
- Imperial War Museum Short Film Festival. London
- Move Me Productions Film Festival. Belgium.
2017
- West Front Nieuwpoort Belgium. A Remembrance. September 2017.
- APHE. Human Interfaces Research Group. Norwich University of the Arts. (Group Show).
- Visualizing the Home. Artist Talk/Paper. University of Cumbria.
2016
- Uncertain States 2016. (Group Show) Mile End Art Pavilion, London.
- Norwich University of the Arts Research Display. Decisive and Other Moments.
- Unexpected. Ben Uri Gallery. London
2015
- AMPS 2015. (Group Show) Photofusion. London.
- Uncertain States 2015. (Group Show) Mile End Art Pavilion, London.
- Dis/placed Group Show. Shoreditch Town Hall. London.
2014
- AMPS 2014. (Group Show) Photofusion. London.
- Uncertain States 2014. (Group Show) the School of Art, Architecture and Design. London Met.
- The Decisive and Other Moments: Artist Talk. The Photographers’ Gallery
- Brighton Photo Fringe Open. (Group Show) Short Listed Artists.
- 5 Contemporary Photography Collectives. (Group Show) Brighton Photo Biennial.
- UCS Editions. (Group Show) Four Corners Gallery. London.
- MRCF (Solo Exhibition) London.
- How We Learn. (Group Show) Belfast Exposed. Belfast.
- Divided To The Ocean. (Solo Exhibition) The Association of Photographers.
2013
- AMPS 2013. (Group Show) Photofusion. London.
- Uncertain States 2013. (Group Show) the School of Art, Architecture and Design. London Met.
- Platforma Arts. Manchester. Artist in Focus.
- Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize. (Group Show) Bristol
- MRCF(Solo Exhibition) London.
- An Eye for an Ear. (Group Show) Penang. Malaysia.
2012
- AMPS 2012. (Group Show) Photofusion. London.
- Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize. (Group Show) National Portrait Gallery. London.
- The World in London. (Group Show) The Photographers Gallery Cultural Olympiad. Gulbenkian Foundation. London.
- British Spirit. (Group Show) The Association of Photographers. London.
- The World in London. (Group Show) The Photographers Gallery Cultural Olympiad. Victoria Park London.
- Celebrating Sanctuary. (Solo Show) Berni Spain Gardens. South Bank. London.
- Galerie Huit Open Salon. (Group Show) Arles.
- RGB Awards. (Group Show) Bristol.
- Uncertain States Salon. Featured Artist.
- Borders. (Group Show) Situation Rhubarb. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
2011
- CounterPoints: Platforma Festival. (Group Show) London
- Portrait Salon 2011 (Group Show)
- Uncertain States 2011. (Group Show) London.
- Persona Art Festival. (Group Show) London.
- LPA. Let’s Face It 7. (Group Show) London
2010
- Red Dot. (Group Show) The Association of Photographers.
- Flesh and Blood. (Group Show) Nexus Gallery. Manchester.
- Home Truths. (Group Show) Brighton Photo Fringe. Brighton.
- Power of 10 Banners. (Solo) LCC London.
- FFWE10. (Group Show) The Photographers Gallery. London.
- Royal Photographic Society. 153rd International Print Exhibition. (Group Show) Allen & Overy London and touring.
| j.cant@londonmet.ac.uk | |
| Website | jamesrussellcant.com |