thereafter
in the end · passion floods its valve · her cells · fill with · light · [she dissolves]
summary
Thereafter is a sequence of images depicting how a single coral peony, in the course of seven days, undergoes a mystical transformation as it blooms and nearly dematerializes. Letterpress printed and bound by hand with transfer images of the flower, the book is a deviation into brilliant color from the strict monochromatic palette of my work so far. The book connects conceptual transformation of the flower to linguistic and etymological analyses of its name (Paeonia) in the Greek language, following the significance of names according to Plato’s dialogue of Cratylus.
specifications
Transfer printing of images, letterpress printing from polymer plates, handmade papers for folios and covers
Edition Size: 19 + 5 artist proofs
Number of leaves: 22; 10 folios, 9 transfer prints
Folio papers were custom-made for the edition: white, Old Master drawing and calligraphy, deckles on 3 sides, Papeterie Saint-Armand
Bound in heavy white handmade cotton rag with a rough surface, title in silver on front cover
Dimensions: 26 cm x 25 cm x 1 cm
Letterpress printing, sewn board binding of the book and clamshell case (gray cloth with title in darker gray) by Sandy Tilcock
Housed in custom-made clamshell box covered in gray cloth with title in darker gray
Date: winter, 2015
the process
The connection between visual and linguistic/conceptual threads underlies the design of this book. For two years I photographed the elusive beauty of coral peonies, abstracting form and color during the process of transformation. For printing, I used a transfer process, similar to monotype printing. It involves printing the image on a specially coated transparency film using archival pigment inks, and then transferring the image on dampened handmade paper.
