Chemical Potential: The Darkroom Upside Down Exploring the Chemigram

Abstract

This exegesis discusses my practice-led research into the chemigram. The chemigram is a cameraless photographic technique in which light, photographic chemistry and paper are alone responsible for the visual results of chemical reactions on the photographic emulsion. On one hand the chemigram is a rebel, breaking all the rules of photography as it is commonly understood. On the other, it sees a return to photography’s most fundamental principle: a fascination with creating images with light. In this paper, I survey the many different forms the chemigram can take. I concentrate in particular on the chemigram with resist which draws upon the most unlikely list of substances found in the most unusual places, everywhere from the kitchen to the hardware store. I reflect upon my own experimental practices and images. I argue that previous definitions of the chemigram as a practice are too narrow and that it is in fact far broader than understood to date. I further contend that at the heart of chemigram lies the balance between multiple contending factors, the interplay of which makes every chemigram utterly unique. Show more