UMOJA

A series that examines how the different elements work with each other to provide humanity with resources for life. Through self portraiture i created images that celebrated each element through color, fashion and makeup. The title UMOJA means unity in Swahili and really shows how unified the elements are. I hope people can look at the portraits and remember to be more mindful about the environment and how we interact with it. 
Images shown represent Water, Earth, Fire, Metal and Wood.

MATERIAL EXPERIMENTATION

After creating the digital portraits I began to experiment with how i could further push my concept and I began to think of how I could use the elements to recreate and reprint the same images. This time not embodying the elements but being part of them and working with them in the physical pieces. 

Left: Digital Image
Right: Cyanotype Print
For this process, i used the cyanotype process that relies heavily on water. It gave my image rich blue hues which further assisted my theme. 

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Left: Digital Image
Right: Inkjet Print on Cotton-Muslin Fabric
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Left: Digital Image
Right: Engraved Image on sheet of metal
For this process, i used an Epilog Laser Engraver and Cutter to carefully engrave my image onto a sheet of steel. The process took 7 hours and the image reveals and hides based on lighting and perspective. 

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Left: Digital Image
Right: Engraved Image on Popler wood.
For this process, I used an Epilog Laser Engraver and Cutter to carefully engrave my image onto a block of wood. 

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Left: Inkjet Print
Right: Consumed Image and Ashes collected in Dome. 
By burning the image, I wanted to show how uncontrolled fire leaves little to no traces when in contact.