Olivia Siddaway
Paralysis
17 - 28 May 2023
G3
Opening Night
Friday 19 May | 6pm – 8pm
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Paralysis is a solo exhibition by Olivia Siddaway that consists of a series of photographic works depicting the debilitation caused via the overwhelming nature of anxiety. Using the New Cyanotype alternative process as a medium, it seeks to embody and capture the physical sensation in a tangible light. Embracing the natural colour of this historic process, it evokes feelings of melancholy with its blue hues.
The Process
Each print in the series “Paralysis” is made using the New Cyanotype process. This process is an alternative photographic process developed by Mike Ware in 1995 which is derived from the traditional process originally invented by Sir John Herschel in 1848. Known for its rich Prussian blue, New Cyanotype is an iron printing process that involves treating paper with a solution either by brush or rod so that the surface becomes sensitive to ultraviolet light. The process is quite magical and, at times, quite unpredictable, making each print unique.
To produce the prints in this series, a collection of bottles was sourced and natural elements were gathered and pressed for each composition. The bottles and the skeleton were photographed and produced into digital negatives, and each assemblage of natural vegetation was carefully curated to form photo montages. Each arrangement was placed onto the senstised paper in two parts and exposed in the UV light box multiple times to create one final print.
Artist Bio
Olivia Siddaway is a Melbourne-based artist exploring the intersection between traditional photographic processes and contemporary mixed media techniques. She focuses on subject matter that explores empty spaces, natural textures, anthropomorphic aspects of objects, and the debris of human life. Using historical methods to produce imagery with ultraviolet light on different surfaces, Olivia employs a monochromatic palette to convey complex emotive content.
Contact
Phone : (03) 9482 3550
mail@redgallery.com.au
Address
157 St Georges Rd
Fitzroy North, Victoria, 3068
Map
How to get here
Tram: route 11
Stop 21 just north of Edinburgh Gardens
Melway ref: 30B12
Parking in nearby streets
Bus: 504 (Reid Street)
