Electromagnetograms

                                          

Liz Liguori and Jessie Mann    Hokusi     Gelatin Silver Print

March 2 - April 16, 2017 

Electromagentograms

Jessie Mann and Liz Liguori

This dynamic series of photographs created by Virginia Tech Graduate Students, Liz Liguori and Jessie Mann are a study in isolating light, surface, saturation, and rhythm in the manner of abstract expressionism.    Created by exposing photographic paper to diffracted and refracted laser light using prisms, liquid and filters; the paper is then processed by hand using a painterly application of the photochemistry.  The artwork combines traditional methods of darkroom photography with contemporary light exploration. 

The result is an invented photograph, named the “electromagnetogram” by its creators, artists Jessie Mann and Liz Liguori.  In this case, photo chemicals and the purified light of lasers are used for mark making instead of paint. The photos are an effort to explore the essence of the photographic medium, independent of content just as the abstract expressionists explored the essence of painting free of content.

Jessie and Liz were chosen to highlight the work of Virginia Tech graduate students for this year’s Virginia Tech Biennial Student Art Exhibit. Liz is in her final semester at Virginia Tech School of Visual Arts completing her M.F.A. in Creative Technologies. Jessie is working on her Ph.D. in the Virginia Tech Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Program where she is doing research in cognitive neuroscience. Their curiosity-driven, unique photography highlights the excellent work of Virginia Tech students who combine creativity with technology and science in their art.