Developing my practice in cyanotypes, the sun is central in many folkloric and ritualistic practices and eggs have many superstitions, folkloric and spiritual attachments.
As this project is very material and process driven this is a great combination of elements along with marking the changing of the seasons and welcoming in the lighter half of the year.
I'm really pleased with how the egg cyanotypes worked out, I secured some dried flowers and feathers inside the clean, empty egg shells and put them in direct sunlight for 30 mins. I had coated them with two layers of cyanotype chemicals and left to dry overnight. I used duck egg shells that I had brought on the roadside in the village of Laxton on the morning of the May day gathering there so the materials have an extra significance and link with sun celebrations for me.
Eggshells are fragile and delicate, so are flowers and feathers, feminine remnants of life. the sun is also life giving powerful and sometimes destructive.
I had lots of cyanotype solution so i made some experiments with other materials I have collected.
the sheep's skull initially took the print of a flower quite Cleary but seems to fade after rinsing.
The linen fabric took the prints well but was very dark.
I also used some pages from an old fairy tale. With words about a witch's garden.
Highlighting here the connection of nature and witchcraft. How odd that a woman is seen as a villain for being connected with nature, but of course the vilification of women is nothing new here. Often a woman is vilified simply for being old. Folk lore recognised the maiden, the mother and the crone. A wise woman is a thing to fear.
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