Rachel Wolf

Image © Rachel Wolf

Artist Statement

In my artistic practice, I transcend the use of a camera, delving into the essence of the photographic process itself. I define my approach as liminagraphy-a traversing of the threshold where light and alchemy transform into tangible matter.

Operating within my darkroom, I engage in an unmediated exploration, exposing photographic materials-paper and film-to diverse objects, light sources, and chemical agents. This liberation from traditional constraints fosters a profound connection with materials and process.

My canvas can comprise layers of photographic paper, enabling intricate compositions and ethereal narratives. I manipulate chemicals and light, encouraging a dance of chromatic transformations. This manifests as an otherworldly fusion of colors, textures, and patterns, a convergence of artistic intention and natural phenomena that can take hours to days.

Beyond capturing light moments, I transform its ephemeral nature into a tangible artifact. Turning light into matter speaks to the relationship between perception and reality, inviting viewers to engage tactilely with our visual experience.

In my exploration of liminagraphy, I embrace the transformative principles of alchemy. Instead of fixing the image, I allow it to continuously evolve, responding to its environment like a living being. Integrating digital technology, I scan these unique images, capturing their ever-evolving nature. This interplay between impermanence and preservation encourages reflection on the fluidity of existence and the beauty discovered within the transient.

Through camera-less photography, I push boundaries, challenge expectations, and invite reconsideration of the nature of photographs.

Rachel Wolf | Portland, OR