Highlife
Photograph
2005 (made)
2005 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
This is a digital photogram, or 'scannergram', a camera-less photograph made by placing an object directly on a computer scanner. The image is digitally manipulated before being printed out.
The photograph comes from a series called 'Intimate Archaeology' in which Elaine Duigenan investigates the varying forms and textures of women's stockings, from vintage to more contemporary nylons, using the same titles as those used as descriptions on packaging. In her artist's statement Duigenan says:
'The ghostly images have a multitude of referents and mange to hover between 'intimations of elegance' and downright quirkiness. Ultimately perhaps the dialogue they prompt has something to do with perfection and imperfection, residing somewhere between the smoothness and the wrinkles, and in the tension of close-knit and loosening threads...'
The photograph comes from a series called 'Intimate Archaeology' in which Elaine Duigenan investigates the varying forms and textures of women's stockings, from vintage to more contemporary nylons, using the same titles as those used as descriptions on packaging. In her artist's statement Duigenan says:
'The ghostly images have a multitude of referents and mange to hover between 'intimations of elegance' and downright quirkiness. Ultimately perhaps the dialogue they prompt has something to do with perfection and imperfection, residing somewhere between the smoothness and the wrinkles, and in the tension of close-knit and loosening threads...'
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Highlife (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Digital photogram; 'scannergram' |
| Brief description | 'Highlife', black and white semi-abstract digital photogram of the top of a nylon stocking, by Elaine Duigenan, 2005 |
| Physical description | Black and white semi-abstract photograph of the top of a nylon stocking |
| Dimensions |
|
| Copy number | 4/20 |
| Gallery label | Duigenan's photographs of tights in the series Nylon are digital photograms or 'scannergrams', made without the use of a camera. She placed the objects directly onto a scanner and digitally manipulated them before printing. Duigenan also cropped the images to give them a quirky and abstract edge. Interested in what she terms 'intimate archaeology', she draws out the texture of the nylon material and accentuates its transparency and impermanence.(April 2009-April 2010) |
| Credit line | Given by the photographer |
| Object history | This photograph is a digital photogram, or 'scannergram', made by placing an object directly on to a computer scanner. The image is manipulated digitally before being printed out. This technique recalls the photogram technique practised by the earliest photographers such as William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877) and Anna Atkins (1799-1871) and revived by modernists including Man Ray (1890-1976) and Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946). Duigenan is interested in what she terms 'intimate archaeology' and uses the cameraless technique to reassess familiar things, here focussing on the material of nylon tights. By cropping the object she creates a semi-abstract image, drawing out the texture and accentuating the nylon's transparency and impermanence. The images suggest a dialogue between straight and wrinkled, perfect and imperfect - the tights simultaneously everyday and sensual. see the artist's 'History of Stockings' at www.lensculture.com/nylon Duigenan draws on the history of the material and explains that synthetic fibres were first shown to the public at the New York World's Fair in 1939. The Du Pont company took the 'NY' from New York and 'lon' from London and called the fabric 'nylon'. The first nylon stockings appeared in New York stores in May 1940. Over 72,000 pairs were sold on the first day alone. |
| Summary | This is a digital photogram, or 'scannergram', a camera-less photograph made by placing an object directly on a computer scanner. The image is digitally manipulated before being printed out. The photograph comes from a series called 'Intimate Archaeology' in which Elaine Duigenan investigates the varying forms and textures of women's stockings, from vintage to more contemporary nylons, using the same titles as those used as descriptions on packaging. In her artist's statement Duigenan says: 'The ghostly images have a multitude of referents and mange to hover between 'intimations of elegance' and downright quirkiness. Ultimately perhaps the dialogue they prompt has something to do with perfection and imperfection, residing somewhere between the smoothness and the wrinkles, and in the tension of close-knit and loosening threads...' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.27-2007 |
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| Record created | March 14, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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