Spectacular pond

When light passes through a prism, it separates into a continuous band of colours resembling a rainbow, termed a “spectrum”. This phenomenon is known as “spectral dispersion”, the mechanism by which light is separated according to differences in wavelength. Focusing on this spectral dispersion, I utilise the photosensitive function of photocopiers to attempt to visually extract the light contained within materials and landscapes. In my work, I bring together the pronounced materiality of copperplate engraving with the ephemeral, delicate light drawn out by the photocopier. These two contrasting elements complement each other, bringing to the surface the inner essence and presence of the subject. The motif for this work is a lotus pond in February, expressing the contrast between withering lotuses and the vitality beneath the water. In depicting the underwater scene, I was particularly conscious of the phenomenon of “interference”. Interference occurs when light waves, like ripples on water, overlap, reinforcing or weakening each other to create new patterns and phenomena. By incorporating this interference as a visual expression, I explored the nature of light itself.