MCC IWD Group Exhibition 2021

Piss baby redux (Damage, Z 2021). Photo © Silvi Glattauer.
470x700mm
Photogravure print on paper from scanned original diptych liquid emulsion print on paper created from 35mm negative.

This photograph is of my daughter.

I asked her what she would like the title to be, to which she replied, "Piss baby".

I added "redux" to reflect the multiple analogue processes (redux of bespoke liquid emulsion darkroom print to photogravure).

The image symbolises the challenges of what it is to be a woman today. The diptych format raises the question (encourages discussion) of what defines womanhood.

Pull life apart.
Put it back together.
Revise.
Redefine.

Be yourself.

Photogravure plate making workstation

Rolling ink on photogravure plate

Pressing ink into photogravure plate

When scanning the original liquid emulsion prints to make the photogravure plate, I left the rough edges in (see below). After making the photogravure proofs, I was not happy with these edges as it felt like too much was going on in the image to the point that it was distracting.

Piss baby proofs (plate 1 and 2).

It is essential to note the many process and subsequent nuances. The original image was photographed on 35mm film, created as a bespoke diptych liquid emulsion darkroom print on Fabriano Rosaspina, scanned, and then recreated as a photogravure.

Although I considered remaking the photogravure plates, which is expensive, I decided to experiment with the existing plates, cutting them down to remove the rough edge, which worked well.

Piss baby redux (Damage, Z 2021). Photo © Silvi Glattauer

Keywords

Photogravure, Liquid emulsion, 35mm, Darkroom, Printmaking, IWD, MCC, Proofs