“I am a collector of old photographs. Drawn to their delicate yet enduring physicality, I marvel at these perfect illustrations of time’s passage and find endless beauty in their decay.” Kaitlyn Danielson’s art practice is rooted in older photographic processes and pushes the boundaries of these methods, both technically and conceptually. By merging historical photographic processes with modern technologies, she explores the monumental gap between the photographic past and present. This exhibition is comprised of 2 separate, but intertwined series: On Verso and Still Remains.
On Verso
“An old photograph is turned over and a handwritten caption stares back, demanding attention. Suddenly, words in ink or graphite replace the images they once described, and a dialogue unfolds between artwork and observer. Withholding the original photograph, I compel viewers to draw from their personal memory and create images of their own. In this way, On Verso forms a relationship with the viewer, functioning simultaneously as both portrait and mirror. The presumed objectivity of photography—and its role as a reliable preserver of memory—is called into question. Forgotten, discarded memories of the passed activate memories of the living, creating an exchange that is dynamic and continuous. On Verso celebrates human life, considers the complexity of the photographic image, and reflects my own personal desire to resist the inevitability of being forgotten.”
Still Remains
“Removed from their once-beloved but now obsolete photo albums, old snapshots are turned over, revealing the unmistakable touch of the human hand. These uncovered gestural marks resemble a unique calligraphy—intimate and expressive, akin to abstract painting. The torn paper, glue stains, and traces of chemical residue speak their own language. Through intuitive composition, these disparate photos find harmony together. Obsessively arranging the shapes, textures, and colors, I create balance, impose order, and discovera place to direct fear of my own decay. The process is a meditative visualization of personal memory. Reminiscent of Rorschach tests, my subconscious reveals itself as the artworks take form. What remains is evidence of memories, still moments of time, images of thought.”