Optograms of the Earth, C-type Print, 490mm diameter (each print)
The work Plastic Era as an Indicator of the Anthropocene is an ongoing research based project exploring the relationship between humans, non-compostable rubbish, and the earth. In its latest phase titled Optograms of the Earth, the body of work presents a series of Colour Photograms produced with plastic waste extracted from Agricultural areas around Brighton and the South Downs.
This project looks into the use of plastics in our everyday lives, particularly within agriculture and the effects of synthetic polymers in soil’s health. Additionally, this artistic project explores photography plasticity mixing experimental and traditional darkroom techniques. Along this work non-photographic subjects become subjects moving from the abject to the seductive. By enlarging these materials and subjecting them to light, Ainoa embarks on a journey of analysis, observing the progression of decay and degradation of different polymerized substances and their intricate interweaving with organic matter such as soil and plants.
Due to the translucent nature of the material, colour and light become key to understanding the different polymer densities, such us high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Enlarging the composition onto photographic colour paper results in the complementary colour image in each piece of plastic and organic matter. The found colours resemble desert ochres from blue bags,
ice blue from red bags, yellows become blue and green plant matter metamorphose to purple. The tint of the plastics depend on its density, composition and state of decay while the hue of the plants depends on the amount of chlorophyll remaining in the organic matter, which naturally reacts to light.
Plastic travels through space but also through time and light.
Optograms of the Earth
C-Type Prints on Fujifilm Crystal Archive Lustre. 49Cm diameter
They came in many colours, densities, textures, iconographies, written language…
They had organic matter attached to them, fighting to find something to hold onto…
There were cloves, straws, herbs and soil keeping it all moist…
They were holding to life….
It was a feast to the eyes…
It was an eyesore to the heart…