Karel Doing: The Practice of „Growing images“ (Ecology and Film)

Display Schedule

Code Completion Credits Range Language Instruction Semester
300MKDP credit 2 15 hours (45 min) of instruction per semester, 39 to 49 hours of self-study English winter

Subject guarantor

Alexandra MORALESOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s)

Alexandra MORALESOVÁ

Department

The subject provides Subjects and study plans provided by faculty

Contents

On November 25, 26, and 28, FAMU will host independent Dutch filmmaker, visual artist, and theorist Karel Doing, who focuses on ecologies (in) film and the semiotic system and material effects of plants in the filmmaking process.

The longer module (II) will include:

a film program (November 25, 7:00 p.m., Punctum, https://punctum.cz/, Krásova 27, Praha 3),

an introductory lecture entitled “Growing images” (November 26, 6:05 p.m. - 7:40 p. m. The venue Studio FAMU, Reference Screening Room, 4th floor, Klimentska 4),

a practical workshop on phytography (November 28, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., FAMU, U5)

and a closing lecture on “Phytography in Historical Context,” followed by a screening of the workshop results (November 28, 4:00–6:00 p.m., FAMU U1).

Phytography is a technique invented by Karel Doing that makes it possible to create detailed chemical traces of plants directly on photographic emulsion. The process takes place in full daylight and makes use of biodegradable chemistry. During the workshop the artist will explain his technique, placing it in a historical lineage of experimental photography and film while also connecting it to ecological awareness. After this introduction, a hands-on demonstration is provided. Participants can create their own images and see the results in projection.

Learning outcomes

One of the outcomes is the understanding of a biological basis of photochemical process and developing of an ecological consciousness in a broader ecosystemic sense.

Prerequisites and other requirements

Interest in ecological and experimental approaches in cinema.

Literature

Karel Doing is an independent artist, filmmaker, and researcher whose practice investigates the relationship between culture and nature by means of analogue and organic process, experiment, and co-creation. His work has been shown across continents at festivals, in cinemas, on stage, and in galleries. He was a founder member of Studio één, a pioneering DiY film laboratory. He has invented “phytography,” a technique that combines plants and photochemical emulsion. He regularly gives workshops and talks to share his ideas and skills.

For more a broader BIO and publications, see:

https://kareldoing.net/Biography.html

https://kareldoing.net/Publications_Research.html

https://phytogram.blog/

https://vimeo.com/kareldoing

DOING, Karel (2020). LANDSCAPE IN THE AGE OF ACCELERATED ECOCIDE. MOVING IMAGE ARTISTS JOURNAL, Issue 2, May 2020. Available at: https://movingimageartists.co.uk/2020/04/30/landscape-in-the-age-of-accelerated-ecocide/

DOING, Karel (2020). Phytograms: Rebuilding Human–Plant Affiliations. Animation, 15(1), 22-36. https://doi.org/10.1177/1746847720909348

DYMON, Chris (2021). Plant-Filming Re-Viewing Vegetality. Millenium Film Journal, no. 73. New York.

Evaluation methods and criteria

The attendance at all events of the course and a brief written reflection of the experience (1-2 pages) are compulsory.

Note

Contact person: Alexandra Moralesová, e-mail: morale01@st.amu.cz

Further information

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2025/2026:

Date Day Time Tutor Location Notes No. of paralel
25.11.2025 19:00–22:00 Alexandra MORALESOVÁ
Venue: Punctum, https://punctum.cz/, Krásova 27, Praha 3 lecture parallel1
26.11.2025 18:05–19:40 Alexandra MORALESOVÁ Studio FAMU - Screening room
Klimentská ulice		 Venue: Studio FAMU, Reference Screening Room, 4th floor, Klimentská 4 lecture parallel1
28.11.2025 10:00–13:00 Alexandra MORALESOVÁ Room No. 5
Lažanský palác		 Phytography workshop lecture parallel1
28.11.2025 16:00–18:00 Alexandra MORALESOVÁ Room No. 1
Lažanský palác		 A closing reflection on phytography and screening of students work. lecture parallel1

Schedule for summer semester 2025/2026:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans