DENATURED
laser cut plywood, diluted bleach on black cotton, serigraph monotypes on mirror with watercolor and wax
Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the active ingredient found in bleach; it makes up less than 10% of the household cleaning solution that has been developed since the 18th century for disinfecting and dyeing. This reactive medium changes and breaks down molecular bonds within organic compounds in an explosive reaction known as oxidation. This is the quintessential process for altering the structure of color carrying molecules known as chromophores, often negating the absorption and reflection of light within the visible spectrum of color. This reaction also has devastating effects on the structure of proteins of living organisms such as bacteria, similar to the application of heat, hence its use as a disinfectant. Oxidation causes protein denaturation within these structures that start unfolding and clumping together, impacting their function, and ultimately leading to cell death.
The evolution of the design process, playing with balance and structure in their overall sense of framing the circular forms. The various colors are used to keep track of the many layers, I was initially using various wood tones but it was starting to hurt my eyes trying to differentiate.
The evolution of the mirrors, lifeforms that have grown through repetitive layers of printing, painting, and pouring. Acrylic paint mixed with dish soap are left in pools to dry leaving networks of color in heavily saturated areas. These layers are suspended in melted wax poured onto the surface and allowed to dry. The serigraph only prints on the most raised surfaces of the wax and transforms the landscape of color with each additional layer.
Using leftover materials generated in my experimental process, these byproducts have taken on a new life and independence from the mother project.