Photocopied Photocopies
During this process of degradation, I began thinking about different artifacts that I could apply this process to. Photographs instantly came to mind. They are quick reminders of the past. How could I simulate the process of uploading/downloading with these tangibles objects? I decided that I would photocopy the originals and then photocopy the photocopy. I did two separate iterations with this specific prototype: one using color and one using black and white.
For the color iteration, I placed a variety of old photographs onto my copier, creating a collage of images from the past. As I expected the images became washed out with each copy, loosing their color and detail. However, a very interesting thing occurred with each version. The images at the bottom of the photocopy started to disappear and the images at the top moved down. The 14th photocopy left me with a blank white piece of paper. I found the results to be poetic, subtly commenting on the idea that our mind slowly forgets what it has once remembered.
The black and white iteration gave me results that I had been expecting. Overtime the image lost all detail and became shapes of black of ink. Although towards the last few copies, the black started to take on a purplish blue hue, which I found to be very interesting. I love that my results from these two iterations are tangible, just like the photographs that I started with.
