Manufactured Autonomy.
McComb, Kristina.
2017
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“Even
imperfection itself may have its ideal or perfect state.” - Thomas de Quincey.
The pearl, a material prized for perfection, yet that is so rarely perfect, serves as
the inspiration for this body of work. At its origin, a pearl is nothing more than an
agitation to the shell it grows in. In Manufactured Autonomy, I examine and catalog the
physical intricacies such as size, shape, color, ... read moretexture, and other defining
characteristics of pearls and the shells that they grow in. Through repetition of
intimately sized photographs the pearls are cataloged and come together to create an
archive, resembling an antiquated family photo album. The use of a chemical reaction to
rust the metal structure references the coating process of daguerreotypes and tintypes
and points toward the impact of time on material. Time stands as a dichotomy as it
represents both death and life, as it naturally slowly and steadily destroys steel and
also gives life to pearls. No part of life is untouched by times impact. And these
minute details in the world are what draw my
attention.
Keywords: photography, steel, individuality, pearls, sculpture, shells.read less - ID:
- 1r66jc38z
- Component ID:
- tufts:23255
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
- Usage:
- Detailed Rights
