Alchemy
By Zoe Alexander Fisher
By Zoe Alexander Fisher
May 2012
Slade School of Fine Art, London
Installation
includes; Cyanotype photographic print on 5’x4’ fabric, projection of moving
water and moving plastic, projection of animation over pink faux hairpiece,
silver plastic on floor
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The alchemy of the artist –
The magical and ephemeral
quality/capability of the artist to transform the object/material through the
artistic process –
Whether it be physically manipulating and
transforming
Or arranging, positioning within space in
relation to other objects/other bodies
Or conceptually, by simply titling
something so, thereby elevating the base material/object to the value of art –
to be perceived and read as meaning/narrative.
This is abstract alchemy.
Through abstraction, rather than depiction
– the object here is opened up to anything – it became
An aesthetic
A material
An element
A piece of data/information
With which the artist/alchemist may perform
his/her magic process of transformation.
But…
This is false alchemy
Alchemy, is in its nature impossible.
We cannot turn dirt into gold/silver.
The artist/alchemist will therefore
inevitably produce a false object.
He/she will always fail to perform true undeniable pure magic.
Not everyone will believe him/her.
He/she must perform a few sly tricks.
Apply faux.
Utilize the machine.
Does this make the artist any less of an
alchemist?
No
He/she is anything you wish to believe – as
is their art.
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