Photography traditionally prioritises a singular way of seeing and representing the world; producing images that are highly detailed, preferably in colour, and designed for permanence. To produce those images, photography is historically rooted in natural resources and organic materials. However, the medium is not necessarily a natural process; rather, it can be seen as an artefact of pollution and environmental impact caused by the before mentioned quality standard. The elective Botanical Alchemy & Alternative Photography seeks to explore eco-friendly alternatives to challenge the industry standard established by commercial chemistry.
Over the course of one week, students from the Willem de Kooning Academy experimented with plant-based solutions and non/low-toxic developers and fixers to find alternative processes for darkroom photo development. The workshop introduced at least the following organic printing processes: anthotype, cyanotype, lumens, and phytograms, but students were encouraged to find their own processes. The aim of the elective was not a perfect image, rather it focussed on artistic experimentation and practice-based research to discover new ways of making while keeping track of the process through detailed documentation.
With the outcomes we will look at the medium anew, using the distinctive tonalities of these techniques to foster new photographic visions. How are sustainable processes changing the way we interpret photos? Can eco-friendly processes truly shape an alternative lens for photography, or are we destined to gravitate toward traditional aesthetics that merely mirror our diverse yet homogenised human vision?
This workshop was carried out and developed in collaboration with the Willem de Kooning Academy.
