Pauline Hall
Artist Bio
This work comes from a series of experiments with pinhole photography made in the community garden close to where I live in East London.
The images were processed using natural chemicals; foraged plants (nettles) to make an alternative developer together with a saline solution (salt water) to make the fixative to process the HP400 film. An unexpected outcome was the colour of the negative from a 2nd passing through the fixative, unexpectedly turned pink.
The fragile photographic processes, using a pinhole camera with the careful timing of exposures, together with the developing the film with natural home made chemicals as well as the fleeting quality of blossom, I think, has a resonance with the theme of this exhibition.
Cherry blossom is also celebrated in Japan for its association with the fleeting quality of life and time, recognised as a symbol of new beginnings.
Selected Work
Name: Cherry Blossom Series II-iiiLimited edition giclee print of cherry blossom photographed using pinhole camera with HP400 35mm film and processed with natural chemicals made from foraged nettles and saline fix.
The painting/cutout is based on a photo from the 1930s when constructing skyscrapers became a strong drive, and the competition to build the world’s tallest building was fierce. I used this image as a symbol of human desire. I replaced the ridiculous-looking hats in the photo with more recent tall buildings, indicating ongoing development and devastation to our environment, using a lone frog to represent nature.
Medium: Mixed Media/Cutout on board (framed)
Size: 66cm x 86cm framed, (60cm x 80cm unframed)
Year: 2024