– Why did you open me in the light? asks the plate in frustration.
– Because I wanted to see you.
– Yes, but the package clearly says open only in the darkroom!
– I understand that and I’m sorry. I thought you were already dead because you are already over 40 years old. The glass plates are not made to last that long.
– You’re not right about that. We live forever in our element as long as there is no light. You killed me!
– Aha, but how can you talk now?
– I don’t talk, I only reflect!
Unbelichtet, 2021unexposed AGFA Glass plate, 40 years old, 4×5
The installation consists of 210 unexposed glass plate films, aligned in a rectangular grid 200×125 cm. The composition is rich in red, orange and yellow tones – the effect of photographic emulsions reaction with the light photons. Similar to stained glass, the smooth glass plate reflects the vivid interplay of light and color in a new relationship with its surroundings.
In addition to its physical properties, the use of unexposed glass film plates enables the viewer to engage with it from the subjective side. The notion, that it has never been used before opens up the possibility for the viewer, in a philosophical manner, to project, illuminate his/her own unexposed, unrealized, unimagined visions and ideas onto them.
However, this state is of temporary character. In the course of time and light, the photographic emulsion might lose its vibrant color, start to crack and fall apart to the dust, just like the memories. The only thing that remains: the reflection.
