Our last Family Day, in May, looked closely at the exhibition “Kei Ito: Staring at the Face of the Sun.” Japanese American artist Kei Ito experiments with camera-less photography to explore collective memory and healing since the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
Check out “Sungazing Scroll” and “Burning Away”. Both of these works of art are photograms. A photogram is made by placing objects on the surface of a light-sensitive material and then exposing it to light. What do you notice about these images?
Have you ever taken a photograph? Did you use a digital camera, like a phone, or a film camera, like a Polaroid? Talk to a family member about a special photo that you’ve taken or about your favorite family photo.
A cyanotype, or sun print, is an example of a photogram. Cyanotypes are one of the oldest photographic processes and produce dark blue prints. Artists make cyanotypes by positioning objects on photosensitive paper, then exposing the paper to sunlight. The sun exposure will turn the paper blue and create a printed outline where you’ve arranged your objects. Kei Ito uses similar forms of camera-less photography techniques to create the works on view in “Staring at the Face of the Sun.”
Now it’s your turn to experiment with photography by creating your own cyanotype.
You will need the following supplies:
- cyanotype paper (do not open until you are ready to make your print; you can usually buy this paper at a craft store)
- portable, flat surface bigger than the paper, like a tray or piece of cardboard
- small found objects or greenery from outside, such as flowers and leaves
- piece of Plexiglas to lay on top of your items (optional)
