The Married Life of Atoms: The Harry Kerr Bursary

The Married Life of Atoms: The Harry Kerr Bursary
Harry Kerr & Danielle McLeod
19th September – 31st October 2026
Reid Gallery

The Married Life of Atoms serves as a poignant retrospective exhibition showcasing the personal photographic endeavours of the late Harry Kerr, alongside works by Danielle McLeod, who was awarded the Harry Kerr Bursary in 2024.

The exhibition is co-curated by Christina McBride and his life and work partner, Martha McCulloch, offering an introspective journey through Harry’s prolific career, highlighting the diversity and depth of his photographic projects.

The selected works for the exhibition were edited from a multitude of projects, each echoing Harry’s eclectic array of interests and concerns. His body of work delved into themes as varied as the interpretation of meaning, the dynamics of landscape and space, the nuances of time and location, and the complexities of communication. Furthermore, Harry’s fascination with the snapshot aesthetic, mathematics, particle physics, and apocalyptic visions, alongside his reverence for the inherent beauty of photography, is evident throughout the work.

Harry’s approach to photography was marked by his use of a wide range of cameras, from the simple toy Diana camera to sophisticated large-format plate cameras. The Diana camera, in particular, played a significant role in his oeuvre. Known for its basic construction that often resulted in unpredictable optical effects such as blur, vignetting, and light leaks, the Diana camera embodied the essence of indeterminacy – a theme recurrent in his work. This fascination with the unpredictable and the irreproducible underscored Harry’s exploration of scientific and mathematical uncertainties, as well as the philosophical inquiries into the nature of definition and meaning.

A notable feature of the exhibition is the inclusion of a proposal for a work that Harry never realised. This was an ambitious proposal for an installation that would utilise slides illuminated by electronic flash, activated by motion sensors. Drawing inspiration from apocalyptic imagery found in the Book of Revelations and the Bhagavad Gita, notably referenced by Robert J. Oppenheimer during the first atomic detonation, the proposed work aimed to juxtapose the transient nature of photographic exposure with the profound analogies and imagery of apocalyptic visions. Kerr’s intention to bridge the ephemeral moment of photographic capture with the existential contemplations of humanity’s end times highlighted his enquiring spirit and deep engagement with the thematic undercurrents of his broader work. Martha suggests that we consider this proposal as a work in itself.

The exhibition title derives from this unrealised proposal. The Married Life of Atoms encapsulates a central tension that runs throughout Harry’s work: the relationship between the intimate and the personal, and the universal and the cosmic. It reflects his enduring fascination with the ways in which individual experience can resonate with broader scientific, philosophical, and existential ideas. The phrase itself was borrowed from the title of a chapter in an amateur science book published in the 1960s – a source that appealed to Harry’s curiosity about science, language, and metaphor, and whose poetic resonance remained with him.

Danielle Macleod was awarded the 2024 Harry Kerr Bursary. A gifted mask maker and photographer from the Isle of Lewis, McLeod’s work is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of the Hebrides. Her photography, captured on medium format film, is known for its evocative portrayal of traditional Hebridean life, local legends, and the mystical connection between people and their landscapes.

Gorm an Fheòir — The Blue of the Grass explores traditional healing medicines and practices of the Highlands and Islands through portraits and landscapes printed in cyanotype and toned with botanicals. With a focus on the plants and materials used in ancient folk-healing traditions and drawing on the book Healing Threads by Mary Beith (2018), McLeod identified and gathered specific materials to create wearable sculptures, photographed on models in the landscapes from which the materials came. The resulting images form a visual poem linking people to place.

Harry Kerr (1960 – 2022) studied Graphic Design and Photography at the Glasgow School of Art, specialising in photography. He was particularly interested in photography as a fine art, and whilst studying in the Graphics Department he met Thomas Joshua Cooper, who established the Fine Art Photography course and became a significant mentor.

From 1993 until 2000, Harry was a technical instructor in the Fine Art Photography Department at GSA and an active Board member of Street Level Photoworks (Glasgow). Harry then moved to Donegal with his wife, Martha McCulloch, to establish a commercial photography business, while continuing to pursue their own personal art and photography projects.

Harry’s influence extended beyond his own work; he shared his passion for creative expression and excellence in execution throughout his life. He was always generous with his considerable photographic skills and knowledge, facilitating opportunities for students and artists and fostering a culture of collaboration and growth.

Danielle Macleod is a lens-based artist from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. A Glasgow School of Art graduate, her work explores cultural narratives, folklore, and the bond between land and people. Using medium format film and wearable sculptures made from natural materials, she reinterprets Hebridean traditions and creates space for personal mythology. Her process, combining sculpture and photography, explores themes of place, rootedness, and belonging in rural environments.

Her recent project Gorm an Fheòir — The Blue of the Grass (supported by the Harry Kerr Bursary) uses sustainable techniques like caffenol film development, cyanotype printing, and botanical toning with local plants. Each step was shaped by the environment—a place-based approach she continues to develop.

Part of the Season of Photography 2026, a celebration of photography in Scotland running from 1 September – 20 December 2026.

With support from The Hope Scott Trust and Artlink

This exhibition is a part of the Season of Photography 2026 -  a celebration of photography in Scotland running from 1 September – 20 December 2026.