Artist Statement, X-ray Nasturtiums

“Presence and Decay”

Inspired by New Guinea Wall Paintings done by the Aborigines, I have taken these digital images of nasturtiums that were photographed on a morning in May after a heavy rain because of the awareness they are organic and decaying matter. Then they are cropped to enhance the sense of being captured in the moment and also to lose some sense of identity. This causes the effect of looking through the surface, very much like an x-ray will do.

They are created using digital media. First a digital camera is used. Then I create the x-ray effect in Photoshop using color modes and filters and layer effects.

I form a relationship between the process of digital media and the final suite of pieces. Both translate the world. Both portray or contain the fleeting moment of nature in time and space.

The lack of contrast indicates the ephemeral nature of the here and now, and has appearance almost like botanical studies, yet these x-ray like images have a see through quality pointing to the organic processes of presence and decay.