This is the spark, the trace to follow: a silver brushstroke that the photographer applied over fine paper, previously treated so that only a part of the photograph appears while the rest stays hidden. Now please imagine or grasp what is beyond the white, beyond emptiness; try to invent the reality that is hidden. The more you’ll try to catch reality, the more imagination you’ll need. This is a boundless invitation to deduction and fantasy as well.
The exhibition showcases a series of artworks of the genre street photography, interesting and evocative works, which the author enriched with an artisanal technique that allows to see just a portion of the image, thus leaving to the observer the task of imagining what is hidden. The overall effect is that of a photograph realized with a paintbrush. It gives the impression of a fusion between the two techniques, photography and painting, while the image still maintains its harmonic composition.
About the technique, photographer Rudy Pessina says: “Ideal support for this special printing technique is a fine arts cardboard; I used Tiepolo material from Fabriano paper factory, 100% cotton paper with neutral ph and 290 gr/sm weight, and Rosaspina cardboard 100% cotton paper and 220gr/sm weight. From fine arts papers of Magnani paper factory I chose Portofino and Italia materials, both 100% cotton paper and 300 gr/sm weight. The photographic emulsion that I used is a silver gelatine prepared in dark room and spread with a paintbrush on the cardboard, then left in the dark to dry for 24 hours. At the moment of printing, the silver traces are not visible on the cardboard and the photographer is the only one in control of the process, as he knows the elements in the image and the direction and strength of the brushstroke he applied to reveal some details and leave others hidden. The following steps are those of traditional black and white artisanal printing, with few tricks: hydroquinon added to the development in order to enhance contrasts; two fixings and one selenium toning to stabilize the silver and obtain an image that is resistant and incorruptible in the long term.”
