Matthew Beach

I am an artist-researcher working at the intersection of discourses around place, the photographic, and care in more-than-human worlds. My practice spans between more ‘normative’ humanities research outputs in the form of research publications and conference presentations, as well as artistic outputs in the form of printmaking, sculpture, and experimental films/filmic essays.

I maintain broad discursive interests around materialisms, ethics of care, more-than-human enquiry, science and technology studies, and participatory art models and criticism. Recently these areas have been focused on the colonial legacies of houseplants and on jellyfish economies.

Currently a doctoral scholar within the School of Geography at Queen Mary, University of London, my thesis (working title - Connective Tissue: (Un)lively Materialities of Gelatinous Life) considers the intersections between legislation, ethics, and naturecultures in mapping the material and social life of gelatine, collagen, and their related commodities. Gelatine and collagen are animal agriculture (by)products extracted from connective tissues in the form of odourless/tasteless granules or powder. It accomplishes this through three approaches: (1) charting the development of global gelatine/collagen markets by engaging with a selection of historical and contemporary production and consumption practices; (2) focusing on a collaboration between a private company and university scientists working to produce/sustain a coastal jellyfish/gelatine economy in the state of Georgia in the United States; and (3) exploring the emergent world of jellyfish aquaculture and companion gelatinous zooplankton.