Studio Radar

Documentation is often seen as something that happens once a project is complete, a way of recording what has already taken place. Increasingly, however, @manuelvason approaches documentation not as a secondary act, but as a means of extending how a work can continue to exist, be revisited, and remain accessible over time. This perspective has become central to the work developed through 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥. Through 360º environments, we explore how exhibitions, live performances, and heritage spaces can remain open to audiences across different contexts and conditions. Accessibility is embedded in this process from the outset, influencing how spaces are navigated, experienced, and shared. #360VirtualTour #AccessibilityInCulture #StudioRadar

A recent photoshoot celebrating craft, care, and continuity. We had the pleasure of working with Nikki Tompsett, an artist and weaver whose work celebrates the ancient traditions of hand spinning and weaving. Working under the name @dawsonroadstudio , her practice is rooted in process, material knowledge, and a deep connection to heritage techniques. The images bring together three generations: Nikki, her mother, and her daughter each engaging with the pieces in a playful way. What emerged was more than a documentation of pieces; it became a portrait of relationships, gestures, and shared histories woven through making. Thank you, Nikki, for welcoming us into your world and for sharing your beautiful practice! At 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥, we are always drawn to stories that unfold through collaboration where process, people, and material come together in meaningful ways.

Studio Radar would like to invite you to participate to a live and streamed event on Tuesday 24 March at The Glassworks, Folkestone exploring how access can be embedded into immersive technologies from the very beginning. Following a packed session at the Museums Association Conference, this event shares what we have learned through developing VR experiences and 360 virtual tours with disabled creatives and researchers at the centre of the process. Too often, immersive technologies are treated as innovation first and access second. Our work demonstrates that when disabled people are involved from the outset, immersive experiences become richer, more layered and more meaningful for all audiences. Panel Discussion | 2.00 – 3.00pm Featuring: Harsha Balasubramanian Manuel Vason (Studio Radar) Simon Wilkinson (BrightBlack) Karl Mercer (Curating Visibility Alumnus, Dover Museum) Chaired by Esther Fox, Head of Screen South’s Accentuate Programme The panel will explore: What access means in immersive environments Embedding haptics, audio description, BSL and text-to-speech The challenges of accessible VR production What museums need to consider next Try It Yourself | 3.30–5.30pm Attendees will be able to experience the At The End of History VR installation and explore five 360 virtual tours created as part of Curating for Change. Networking | 5.30–6.30pm The event will be hosted at The Glassworks, Folkestone, with the discussion available via live stream for remote participants. To book your place please contact us at [email protected]

For many years, my work was known primarily through photographic documentation evolving organically through collaborations across performance, live art, visual arts, theatre and dance companies. Over time, the practice expanded. 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥, in partnership with other organisations, grew from that foundation, not as a replacement, but as a natural progression. Alongside photography, we began developing 360º virtual environments, accessibility-led feature tools, and immersive documentation for exhibitions and cultural projects. This week, ✨✨✨ 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 ✨✨✨: a clearer reflection of where the studio stands today and where we are heading. Please, discover our refreshed website and 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 to keep up with new work, partnerships, and upcoming projects. ✨✨✨ See link on bio! ✨✨✨ I’m also very pleased to be working alongside our new Co-Director Rubiane Maia (@rubianemaia_artwork ), who is leading marketing and communications as we strengthen our visibility and institutional partnerships. The work has always been about presence, care, and collaboration. Now, we are simply communicating it more clearly. If you are working on exhibitions, performance, community projects or immersive environments, we would be very glad to connect. — Manuel Vason, Studio Radar Creative Director @manuelvason

We’re honoured to be documenting 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁: 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, a powerful project reimagining the tradition of pilgrimage through sound. Rooted in themes of movement, belonging and displacement, the project journeys across 11 sites along Kent’s ancient pilgrimage routes, collaborating with artists and local communities to explore how landscapes hold memory. Thank you to @soundemergence for inviting 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 to photograph this remarkable process. It’s a privilege to witness and capture a project that listens so carefully to place, history and collective imagination. Special thanks also to founder @aceagrams and the partners @kentdownsnl , @englishheritage , the Dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester, @thehottin , @doverdc and @maisondieudover . Photo 1 & 2: Church of St Mary. & St Eanswythe, Folkestone. Photo 3: Minster Abbey (St Mary & Sexburga Church), Isle of Sheppey. Photo 4: @onamatterpoetic at Church of St Mary. & St Eanswythe, Folkestone. Photo 5: Church of St Mary. & St Eanswythe, Folkestone. Photo 6: Minster Abbey (St Mary & Sexburga Church), Isle of Sheppey. Photo 7: Church of St Mary. & St Eanswythe, Folkestone. Photo 8: Minster Abbey (St Mary & Sexburga Church), Isle of Sheppey. 📸 @manuelvason / @studioradar_org #ThisPlaceMeant #ArtsCouncilEngland #KentHeritage #StudioRadar

✨ Where ideas take flight ✨ At 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥, creativity is always in motion. Every frame we capture, every experiment we try, comes from a belief in the transformative power of collaboration. From photography and video to immersive technologies, our work is shaped by the energy of the people we work with artists, institutions, and creative communities alike. Each project is a chance to explore, imagine, and share new possibilities for visual narratives. Are you ready to experiment, co-create, and push the boundaries of what a shared vision can become? Let's talk about your project! Image credits: 1. Performance for camera 2. Exhibition view, 'Cnut', a sculpture by Sarah Lucas, Barbican Art Gallery 3. Exhibition view, Carolee Schneemann: Body Politics, Barbican Art Gallery 4. Manuel Vason & Francesca Steele All images @manuelvason / Studio Radar #PhotographicDocumentation #ExhibitionPhotography #PerformanceDocumentation #CulturalDocumentation #VirtualTour

𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 was founded in 2021 by Manuel Vason and Rubiane Maia, emerging from a shared belief in the transformative power of art, creativity, and visual storytelling, as well as the importance of thoughtful, artist-led documentation across a wide range of creative practices. Working at the intersection of photography, video, and immersive technology, we collaborate with artists, institutions, organisations, and communities to produce thoughtful, accessible, and visually engaging narratives. From exhibitions, live art, installations, dance, theatre, and other artistic environments, we believe creative documentation is a powerful tool of communication. ✨✨✨ As we move through 2026, 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 is open to new collaborations with creatives, artists, and partners interested in co-creation and experimentation to explore new possibilities for visual expression. If you’re looking to develop projects grounded in trust, care, and artistic integrity, we’d love to connect. ✨✨✨ @manuelvason @rubianemaia_artwork #StudioRadar #CreativeDocumentation #ImmersiveMedia #virtualtour

𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 is delighted that 𝗡𝗼𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲; 𝗔𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆, the powerful solo show by Khalid Abdalla - @khalid3bdalla is touring Australia and New Zealand and reaching new audiences across the region. We were commissioned by Fuel Theatre - @fueltheatre and Battersea Arts Centre - @batterseaartscentre to create the images for the show’s poster and promotional materials. It was a privilege to collaborate with Khalid and director Omar Elerian and we’re not surprised to see the piece receiving such a strong and enthusiastic response. Thanks Khalid and @omarelerian an for this incredible experience! This project was funded by Arts Council England - @aceagrams 📸 @manuelvason #StudioRadar #KhalidAbdalla #OmarElerian #FuelTheatre #BatterseaArtsCentre #ManuelVason #LiveArt #ArtsCouncilEngland

An environment in motion. Young people moving, creating, and imagining — surrounded by an explosion of ideas and possibilities. The backstage captures the energy behind the work: a space where creativity is shared, voices are valued, and new visual identities are born through collaboration. Led by 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 creative director Manuel Vason - @manuelvason , the photoshoot was developed through close collaboration with 𝗜𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆, placing young people at the center of the creative process driven by confidence, experimentation, and collective authorship. Looking ahead to 2026, 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 is excited to connect with artists, creatives, organizations, and institutions, interested in meaningful collaboration, accessibility, and bold visual storytelling. With thanks to Mart Collins for the beautiful film, all the production team, the Youth Company, and the Icon Theatre @icon.teatre that brought this project to life. Film @mart_collins #StudioRadar #ManuelVason #IconTheatre #CreativeCollaboration #YouthCompany #Visualstorytelling #BehindtheScene #2026

It is with great admiration that I share images from Steven Cohen: Long Life @chandelier_tutu , the career-spanning retrospective currently on view at the Iziko Museum of South @izikomuseumssa , curated by Anthea Buys - @and.the.uh . I’m honoured to have contributed two printed photographs created in 2006 for the Encounters publication. These images were co-created in the spirit of performance for the camera — gestures made for future witnesses, activated and interpreted each time the image is encountered. Through this expansive exhibition, audiences are invited to explore the complexity, courage, and integrity of Steven’s artistic practice. His work continues to articulate the urgency of investigating grief as a creative portal for survival and regeneration, a practice that remains deeply moving and necessary. It was a privilege to reconnect with Steven in 2024 during his participation at Fierce Festival - @fiercefestival in Birmingham, and to witness the evolution of his messages and the unwavering confidence in his commitment, truly inspiring. For those interested, copies of 𝘌𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 are still available — feel free to reach out if you’d like one at manuelvason.com/artist-book. My sincere thanks to Stevenson Gallery - @stevenson_za for their professionalism in producing the artworks and providing the exhibition documentation. Moments like this reaffirm why I created STUDIO RADAR - @studioradar_org udioradar_org: to accompany and collaborate with artists whose work provokes transformation and expansion. Exhibition views Stevenson Gallery. #ManuelVason #StevenCohen #IzikoMuseum #LiveArt #Encounters2006 #ContemporaryArtExhibition #PerformanceForCamera #ArtistsCollaboration

We’re excited to start the year by featuring a beautiful project completed at the end of 2025: the Icon’s Young People’s new visual identity. CONFIDENCE · CELEBRATION · VIBRANCE ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ In November 2025, Icon’s Youth Engagement Programme underwent a transformative rebrand, and 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 was thrilled to be part of this exciting journey. Working alongside the Icon Theatre team, their Creative Council and Youth Theatre, our director, @manuelvason , collaborated closely with the group to explore how the group wanted to be represented. The photoshoot focused on celebration, joy, and belonging, reflecting the group’s energy and vision. From confetti cannons to silver foil and playful movement, this project highlights the power of collaborative creativity, where young people are not just subjects but co-authors of their own visual identity. 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗥 is proud to have facilitated a process that truly captures the spirit and confidence of the young people involved. We would like to thank Icon Theatre - @icon.theatre , the Creative Council, the Youth Theatre, and everyone involved @dockyard.chatham @aceagrams @creativemedway #ropemuseum for their incredible energy, commitment, and trust. This project is a wonderful example of what can happen when co-creation and artistic vision come together. Behind the scene photos @mart_collins . #StudioRadar #ManuelVason #IconTheatre #YouthEngagement #CreativeCollaboration #VisualIdentity #VisualStorytelling #PhotographyWithPurpose #IconYouthCompany

We are thrilled to launch 5 virtual tours we have created with expanded accessibility features. After months of testing we are looking forward to publicly share a new accessibility tool devised in partnership with Accentuate UK. Five Curating for Change exhibitions which were displayed at Museum of Liverpool, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, National Railway Museum, York, and Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, will be launched online as 360 Virtual Tours on Wednesday, 19 March. To celebrate the event, we will be doing a small presentation between 2 and 3 pm with the Accentuate Team. Please email [email protected] to request a zoom link.