Imagine and RE-Imaging [Elephant]
Fall, 2024
Monotype,Digital Archive
Monotype,Digital Archive
The project aims at different ways of imaging plants that allow us to contemplate their complexity and significance. Juxtaposing 6 art books, the project presents a spectrum of imaging and products of “imagining”, ranging from realistic microscopic photographs, altered images, spontaneous compositions to freely associative writings.
Plants are manifolds of paradoxes in coexistence. From something that’s considered mundane in everyday life, invisible or reduced to backdrops. At the same time, they constantly amaze and inspire us by their formal qualities. Through their images transcends organic beauty, engineering wisdom, sacred symbols and many more. Ephemeral and ancient, static and mobile, big and small, visible and invisible… Sometimes human see images of themselves and their own corporeality, and has made many efforts to connect with them. Like the tale of the blinds touching an elephant, the art book project aims at presenting multiple ways of seeing/ imaging plants present at the same time. Instead of finding one full image (one truth), these images speak more about us, our conception of time, mortality, and imperfection. –From Preface, part 1, Introduction booklet
The project aims at different ways of imaging plants that allow us to contemplate their complexity and significance. Juxtaposing 6 art books, the project presents a spectrum of imaging and products of “imagining”, ranging from realistic microscopic photographs, altered images, spontaneous compositions to freely associative writings.
Plants are manifolds of paradoxes in coexistence. From something that’s considered mundane in everyday life, invisible or reduced to backdrops. At the same time, they constantly amaze and inspire us by their formal qualities. Through their images transcends organic beauty, engineering wisdom, sacred symbols and many more. Ephemeral and ancient, static and mobile, big and small, visible and invisible… Sometimes human see images of themselves and their own corporeality, and has made many efforts to connect with them. Like the tale of the blinds touching an elephant, the art book project aims at presenting multiple ways of seeing/ imaging plants present at the same time. Instead of finding one full image (one truth), these images speak more about us, our conception of time, mortality, and imperfection. –From Preface, part 1, Introduction booklet
Plants are manifolds of paradoxes in coexistence. From something that’s considered mundane in everyday life, invisible or reduced to backdrops. At the same time, they constantly amaze and inspire us by their formal qualities. Through their images transcends organic beauty, engineering wisdom, sacred symbols and many more. Ephemeral and ancient, static and mobile, big and small, visible and invisible… Sometimes human see images of themselves and their own corporeality, and has made many efforts to connect with them. Like the tale of the blinds touching an elephant, the art book project aims at presenting multiple ways of seeing/ imaging plants present at the same time. Instead of finding one full image (one truth), these images speak more about us, our conception of time, mortality, and imperfection. –From Preface, part 1, Introduction booklet
1.
Introduction Booklet(click to navigate and read)
The Introduction booklet contains the thought process and inspirations that contribute to the making of the project, “Imagine and RE-Imaging [Elephant].” It elaborates how I landed on this plan through the trivial act of preserving plant specimens and wish to expand the exploration of their forms through different ways of imaging and composition. I explained how they are markers of time and material that informs our own materiality, touching upon the vision of Urpflanze and the different ways of imaging and imagining plants across time.
2.
Forms UnmanifestedImaging on seed, pollens and spores. "Within each suspended, animated seed lies the possibility of metamorphosis" –Katherine Ryckman Siegwarth, “Dornith Doherty: Archiving Eden,” Antennae, 2020.
Photograph from Microscopic imaging, Inkjet on Vellum, Inkjet on Clear Plastic, Inkjet on Paper
Photograph from Microscopic imaging, Inkjet on Vellum, Inkjet on Clear Plastic, Inkjet on Paper
3.
Forms of OriginImaging on roots
Risograph on Newsprint, Watercolor Paper, Inkjet on Vellum, Inkjet on Clear Plastic
Risograph on Newsprint, Watercolor Paper, Inkjet on Vellum, Inkjet on Clear Plastic
4.
Forms in LimboImaging on floral parts
Photograph from Microscopic imaging, Inkjet on Clear Plastic, Inkjet on Paper
Photograph from Microscopic imaging, Inkjet on Clear Plastic, Inkjet on Paper
5.
Forms of Imprint
Compositions of specimens
Risograph on Paper, Inkjet on Vellum, Inkjet on Clear Plastic, Inkjet on Paper
Risograph on Paper, Inkjet on Vellum, Inkjet on Clear Plastic, Inkjet on Paper
6.
Forms of MemoryRisograph on Newsprint