Cactus, Coral & Bark

Using found images of cactus, coral and tree bark, I manipulated and deconstructed them digitally to reconstruct a new image to represent their biological makeup. They have been printed digitally on several unique handmade and globally sourced papers. The images on paper were printed a second time using oil-based relief printmaking inks in keeping with traditional monotype technique. Each strip of paper is totally unique, each fold and curl describes it's form, like the DNA. A reconstruction of a life form from the decaying matter of another (the paper itself).
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My hope with this project was to create organic forms, from organic materials, and over time document their decay. During the processes of digital and monotype printing, I thought a lot about the oils and toxic ingredients in inks I applied. I applied heavy metals, alcohol-based solvents, and industrial cleaning solvents throughout the monotype process in excess to push the inks in such a way that they resembled microscopic organisms. The paper was soaked through and took about a week to dry. I imagined what these oils and toxins would do to the living organisms in the images I was reconstructing.