Processing @ The Cornerstone Gallery, Liverpool, until 29 Sep

Curated by Jack Welsh, Processing forms a dialogue between artist, writer and exhibition guest, aiding the parallel programme for LOOK/13 (the Liverpool International Photography Festival). The show combines fresh work by Merseyside-based photographers Kevin Casey, Stephen King and the partnership McCoy Wynne (Stephen McCoy and Stephanie Wynne) to create a diverse range of images and forge a thought process for viewers by inviting an artist, writer or journalist to respond to the series, providing a critical context.

Guests are greeted by Casey’s Chamber series, an honest re-evaluation of the UK’s compression chambers. Portraits of eyes that seek escape and images of stacked personable items such as shoes and medication evoke an emotional reaction from the onlooker. The final photograph shows only the feet of a person about to enter a chamber, causing the viewer to assume themselves as the person in the situation, and therefore form a clearer picture – as guests, we place our own emotions and fears within the framework given. Writer and photographer Joni Karanka responds to Chamber through text and interview, uncovering aspects of the images that may not be obvious to viewers on first glance – Karanka’s observation highlighting Chamber’s disparate rustic and futuristic elements, for example, is an uneasy one.

In contrast to Casey’s claustrophobic study, McCoy Wynne’s Triangulation highlights stunning visual landscapes, focusing on nature and, in turn, relishing the insignificance of humans in its presence. Suggesting that people are guests of the earth provides a thought-provoking contrast to the emotional context of Chamber, where the personal connection is key. Journalist Kenn Taylor discusses Triangulation in essay form, underpinning the artist's concepts and examining the series' geographical frame.

In a third unique documentary style, King captures Liverpool’s solitude in From Here to There, emphasising the loneliness of jaded locations across the city by encouraging an appreciation for the out-of-place assets that divide an otherwise picturesque view, or a person that disturbs a calm scene. The person is both unwelcome and yet responsible in their surroundings – echoing aspects of McCoy Wynne’s respect for nature. Critic Linda Pittwood responds through essay and app format, providing an interactive element for visitors.

Processing offers an opportunity to determine the importance of critical writing in the arts, noting collaboration as a key factor for progression.