Artwork description:

This print explores a washed out portraiture of a man from the USA who is an ex-slave of around the 1900s. The washed out image explores how events from our past can become forgotten over time, though can never be completely washed away due to past events becoming indelibly linked in a way that key events are impossible to forget, or has a permanent influence or effect on the present in many ways.

The image was created through a process of monoprinting and monotyping, where different primary colours were laid onto an acrylic sheet and the image of a grandmother standing by his shack was drawn on top of the plate, removing parts of the ink. This was pressed through a printing press, with each layer of colour (Red, Blue and Yellow) laid on top of each printing to form the finished print. When the print was completed I placed in a tray of water to gradually wash away the printed ink to reveal the unwashable image underneath the layers of excess ink.

The print explores ideas grounded in my project 'Lost Generations' and forms part of a series of prints exploring the impact of those lost to time and history. Here I am recreating through the monotype printmaking process, to capture a semblence of feeling through various layered colours and monoprint mark-making.

This print is printed on 300 gsm printing paper.

Materials used:

Oil based printing ink on 300gsm paper stock.

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