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(C) 2014 Mateusz Kula

Looking for life on the photographs of dead people

Using electron microscopy, I analysed a photograph of my grandfather for the traces of organic and non-organic matter, changes on the surface etc. On this basis, I built a narrative of the history of this photograph. I am interested in the photograph as an object and it’s history, not the content of it. Accompanied by Prof. Rudolf Erlach (Archaometry, Technical Chemistry and Science Visualisation Department), we used a detective-style of thinking (deduction) to try to rebuilt the history of this object. For example: pieces of organic matter that were recognised by Prof. Erlach as textiles and leather leads to a conclusion that this photo was a personal object carried in the pocket or in leather wallet. By combining this information with the date inscribed in the back of the photo - three days before beginning of World War II, summer, happy atmosphere of teenagers spending relaxed time near the lake - strange dramaturgy between object, image and text has been achieved. Photography and microscopic traces of matter on its surface becomes a reason for spinning possible stories.
           
In the future, I will use the photographs for story-telling performances.

Keeping in mind unfolded narration from the microscopic analysis I’ve been staring for a long period of time at the microscopic photographs. Effect of this is  a series of an anthropomorphic forms projected by my brain onto the surface of the microscopic material.
 
 
 
 
 

Fact Box

Looking for life on the photographs of dead people
Date
June 26, 2014