Each year as part of Graduate Photography Online we ask a number of professionals from the world of photography to review all the work submitted and choose their favourites. We chat to Hana Kaluznick, Assistant Curator, Photography at the V&A and Selector for the MA/MFA phase of Graduate Photography Online 2024.
Hana Kaluznick
Assistant Curator, Photography, V&A
Tell us about your job? What does your core role at the V&A involve?
Across displays, research, conservation, publication, collection building and more, my job is to support the curatorial efforts of the wider Photography section. No day is the same, but my core tasks typically involve managing objects lists, overseeing the administration of new acquisitions, drafting various bits of texts (blog posts, object labels, cataloguing descriptions etc.), and supporting members of the public who wish to access the collection for research or creative purposes
How did you make your way into the area of work you're now in? Did you always want to work in a field that involved photography?
I have always had an interest in visual cultures and the arts in general. In 2017, I started an MA at Toronto Metropolitan University in Photography and Collections Management, based on a long-standing (and until that point, non-academic) interest in photography. As part of the programme, I had the opportunity to spend six months in the Photography section at the V&A conducting research and supporting curatorial activities. A few months after I completed my work experience, a job opportunity became available and I have been here ever since.
How do you decide on what makes an interesting photograph or photographic project?
To me, interesting photographs are ones which encourage me to think about or see a subject or concept in a new way. Photography is physically and conceptually a very malleable medium, so works which challenge norms and push visual boundaries are always exciting to experience.
As regards the photographer's statement, what are the most important things for you to know about the work? When it comes to showing their work outside of University, do you have any tips on how graduates should prepare their work and the supporting material that accompanies it?
With a statement, I think it’s important for the photographer to be clear about what the work conveys and to say it early in the text. In my experience working in a museum, I’ve learned that many people don’t engage with longer texts, so it’s vital to make sure to the reader can gain a sense of the project within the first few sentences.
Regarding the second question, I think context matters. If you are in a portfolio review for example, I often feel think that less is more. It’s productive and enjoyable to see where the conversation leads, rather than get distracted by engaging with lengthy texts or looking at an extensive number of images. Strong work often speaks for itself, so let it!
What are the particular challenges you see facing graduates from photography degree courses as they make their way into the world at this particular point in time?
This is a difficult question for me to answer because I think the response depends on many factors. I feel that I can speak only somewhat to London-based photographers, as I’m not overly familiar with the photography communities in other parts of the UK, or around the world. A challenge that stands out in London is the limited access to exhibition spaces outside of museums and galleries. For this reason, I often encourage graduates to look toward engaging with some of the great nearby festivals.
What advice would you have for someone interested in working in your particular area of photography?
There are many different types of curatorial practice - collections focus, research focus, displays and exhibitions, etc. - so my advice would be to identify what areas interests you most and go from there.