Celebrating Spirit with Stereoscope

Stereoscope Magazine, a student-run photography magazine and one of only a handful in print, is a much-loved operation. Their artistic vision brings historic Scottish photography out of the University’s extensive archives and into the light, making St Andrews a fresh space for creative expression and innovation. From Sir David Brewster’s invention of the stereoscope to the bi-annual print of its namesake magazine, there is a deep vein of artistic richness still to be mined. When I heard that Stereoscope were throwing a launch party, I knew I had to be there. 

The party began at 8:30pm on Thursday 16 October, so I gathered a few friends and located the venue: the flat above The Criterion. Flat parties hold a particular intrigue: the possibility of seeing inside buildings that are otherwise a mystery to passers-by, especially somewhere above a regular haunt. With this in mind, I greeted some familiar faces by the door, scavenged £7 for a copy of the new issue ‘Part,’ and eagerly climbed the stairs to the main event. 

The evening would consist of a string of student bands playing in the front room. While the first of the performers was setting up, I took time to admire the decor. There was poetry everywhere, and torn pages of past issues were displayed across the walls. As the pile of coats and bags grew on the landing, it became the pedestal for a laptop playing a recorded poetry reading. As the room filled out, people mingled and cracked open their ‘BYOB.’ The moving bodies made the room hot, and condensation fogged over the windows. The excitement was tangible. The band began.

The Herons came on first and were received by a passionate, spirited crowd. Everyone wanted to let loose and have fun, so perhaps it is not a surprise that the upbeat ‘Squishy Problems’ and ‘I’m so drunk and lonely I could go for a fag’ were strong fan-favourites. As their set finished, the party moved outside, and I caught band members Felix Saint Bris, Ben Bagley, and Ilya Husan for a few questions. 

During one of their songs, Saint Bris fell (or jumped?) into the audience. The crowd were excited by the dramatic effect of this move, so I wondered whether it was pre-planned. Tongue very much in cheek, he confirmed that it was: “Plan really hard — that’s the spirit of punk.” Whether he was being serious or not, I suspect there is truth in his statement. 

I posed the idea to Stereoscope’s editor-in-chief, Matilda Kay. Ushering in a new era of the magazine by introducing excerpts from plays, films, and documentary submissions (with the plan to host more screenings and events), she spoke with me about the behind-the-scenes of the magazine. 

“I think that a lot of creative stuff seems to appear out of the ether, and suddenly you have this beautiful creative thing,” said Kay. “It doesn’t work like that, and it’s a bit of a fallacy about creative things. It takes a lot of work and a lot of manpower.”

As someone who already loves Stereoscope, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by Kay’s enthusiasm. She emphasised to me the importance of accessibility in forming a space of artistic engagement, aiming to have Stereoscope be a place of creative nourishment and support.

“We have such a great committee this year,” she said. “People who work hard, who genuinely care and love what we try to do with Stereoscope. It is something we make that people hold in their hands and see their work in, so it’s important that it’s done really well.”

Since our conversation, Stereoscope’s new mini-issue theme has been announced: ‘Machina.’ The submission deadline is midnight on 21 November. 

I greatly admire Stereoscope for their earnest devotion to art and creativity. Their work in creating an artistic space in St Andrews is much-needed and radiates great potential. And, from what I have seen, their spirit of dauntless optimism marks the beginning of a new creative era in St Andrews.

Photo by Mali Delargy