This project is an exploration of what it means for a work to be considered art, as well as a discovery of personal artistic practice.
The initial concept for this project was conceived while walking through the via’s of Firenze, at a time when I was both living in and studying the culture. When studying a culture such as the Florentine, art is an antithesis to all. But in my time at the Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti, and scouring the countless chapels, I found little of the art to be relatable, and could seldom hold my attention. The places I was drawn to were boutiques of Italian designers, on the streets watching performers, but most of all in paper making shops.
In the marbling shop next to Pitti Palace, I observed the artisan paper marbling style we often see being used for mass produced goods. While watching the local artisan, I realized how many people would walk into this store and not think twice how interesting the papers, fibers, paints, and fabrics are in context to the art of the institutions near by. Why not? Paper marbling is just the use of paints on paper, but with some science mixed in, isn’t that art?
After leaving the store, I ruminated on how I as a photographer could utilize the technique. The outcome of this curiosity is displayed here, illustrations from my mind coming to life. I had no idea if this was possible when I began, or where to begin with the science. After leaving Florence, I self taught marbling by making small scale pieces for months, after graduating to larger pieces, I increased the size for the creation of this experiment; painting the backdrops (also the mat board around the image), shirts, and exterior of the frame in my make shift NYC art studio.
Ultimately, this work is reckoning with what it means to simply create “art” without having to have an overt meaning or training, while also creating works that are accessible and simply alluring and present color to the viewer. What each viewer takes away beyond that is entirely subjective from my initial conception that had no real rhyme or rhythm, but was for the sake of creating a new personal style building on an existing skills and learning from others techniques.