How can we capture the flow of time on a sheet?

This series of cyanotypes seeks to record the flow of time without interrupting it. Time is in constant motion, and the cyanotype technique I have used captures a moment of this ongoing flow, transforming it into a fixed form through a chemical reaction. While time has no inherent speed and is always in flux, the long-term capture of movement provides a way to freeze it into a single image that embodies the flow of time.

Traditional cyanotypes capture a single moment through time as they are exposed to UV light or sunlight. This method enables a photochemical chemical process to capture a specific moment and the continuous flow of time, which uncovers the potential to represent the trace of movement. The project is an experimental effort to capture visible residues from invisible factors, exploring the relationship between chemical photographic reactions and materiality. It draws inspiration from the water sounds of the canal, using them as an infrared concept to create visible elements.

I use cyanotype to explore capturing the vibration of sound through metal sheets. Sheets of aluminium are particularly effective in transmitting vibrations. I applied cyanotype chemistry to aluminium sheets, but first, they needed to be coated with organic matter to absorb the cyanotype solution properly. To achieve this, I applied a bioplastic layer to the metal surface. This coating method allows the cyanotype solution to react on the clear surface, enhancing the materiality and facilitating the desired chemical reaction. These outcomes reveal a sonic pattern as the vibration becomes visible in the cyanotype image.

My approach goes beyond simply capturing a moment; it seeks to capture the essence of change and flow, examining the interaction between the materiality of photography and the passage of time.