THE GROUND LOOKS BACK

The Ground Looks Back is a piece looking to comment on space, time, and making the invisible visible. With the use of cyanotype, I hosted 3 picnics in different weather. They were short, as to have the cyanotype modify appropriately. Me and my friends did a variety of activities, from playing games and snacking to catching up on homework or having nice talks.
With the idea of making the invisible visible, I was also looking to personify and give eyes to the picnic blanket. When my mother falls asleep in front of the TV, she often says "I was watching the TV but it ended up watching me!" And that's always stuck. Evyerhting has an equal and opposite reaction. The ground looks back.

PROCESS

After thanking the Media Lab's dark room's staff, I was able to dowse the picnic blankets (constructed by me with fabric also thanks to the Media Lab) in cyanotype solution and let them dry in the room overnight. Kept them in the room for storage depending on the day when the weather was appropriate, I began to invite friends onto these picnic hangouts with me. They were more than excited to sit on a chemically induced blanket.
And so the picnic blankets became alive. They each hold a 30- minute memory, each with a different weather, different people, and different events. The only thing that remained constant was the location. I chose a spot that was partially covered by a tree shade in the change to see if the shade from the tree would show through. It did not.

THE GROUND LOOKS BACK

PROCESS

MORE PICTURES

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...