fading
laser cut on acrylic sheet, 40 x 30 cm (each), 2023
Fading is a triptych of laser cut on clear acrylic sheets. The figures are self-portraits in an imagined scene, inspired by the phenomenon of the Skeleton Flower, whose petals become transparent when touched by rainwater. As the petals that "disappear" when touched by water, the person who receives the touch starts doing the same.
fading at the ma fine art: drawing pop up exhibition @ camberwell college of arts, december 2023
fading at the ma fine art: drawing pop up exhibition @ camberwell college of arts, december 2023
process
“The digital fabrication induction today gave me so many ideas. What if I do a 3D printing of my hands? Or what if I laser cut an acrylic? Or what if I try something in the embroidery machine? New layers of work. Made me feel like I can in fact step out of my comfort zone, and it will still be my work.” (25.10.23)
“The light workshop made me think of shadow, movement and perception. Is the embroidery in the transparent fabric just a silhouette? Light and movement from outside of the work can change the perception completely. This is an important thing to remind myself when displaying my work. I can either embrace the shadows or try to avoid it. I don’t like the idea of trying to avoid the inevitable. Maybe it’s an exercise of losing control for a moment.” (28.10.23)
artist's journal, 2023
“I tried to make some sketches for the laser cut session and stopped to think deeper. It’s not just an image, everything has meaning. In an acrylic sheet, a ‘transparent’ drawing in a ‘transparent’ surface, what does it mean to put an image? It’ll automatically relate to the aspect of the transparency. Of the ephemeral. Of the idea of ‘hanging by a thread’. Threshold territory.
The hand that comes to touch the face of the figure can be the memory of a touch, in this visual relationship. It could be time fading away. It could be related to Diphylleia grayi, being touched and (almost) disappearing. Or not disappearing at all. It could also, even though I don’t like this idea that much, a scene of violence.
As the petals that 'disappear' when touched by water, the person who receives the touch starts doing the same. And the meaning behind that is personal (to whoever’s seeing the work). Could be the disappearing as the identity/idea of self (separated from the other person) fading away. Could be the feeling of lightness after receiving affection. Could be the desire to disappear from an unwanted touch. This is what comes to my head when I imagine the outcome of this work. I hope it turns out as I’m imagining it. It’s a new technique, a new process, trying to let go (of control).” (29.10.23)
artist's journal, 2023
sketchbook, 2023
“For the work in the acrylic sheets, how to present? What would be the best way to not distract from the transparency? Some ideas I had: magnets, positioning on the wall; wood painted white as the base/bottom part of it. Still deciding. Maybe I should think about what these options would communicate.” (17.11.23)
I decided to display the work on a shelf attached to the wall. I thought that, by creating an angle that makes the work not totally flat on the wall, could add an interesting layer of shadow behind it.
In the last group critique, it was pointed out that the work was also about movement, as the light in the room that the work is displayed changes throughout the day, but also because the surface creates reflection. With that, the reflection of people walking in front of the work ends up being part of it naturally, generating movement all of the time. This made me reflect on how I could explore light and movement further in the future.
artist's journal, 2023
process, 2023