This cyanotype ocean landscape photography transforms water from backdrop into operative force, allowing organic matter and marine residue to register directly onto light-sensitive cotton emulsion. Set of 2 Photographs collapses representation into presence—no horizon, no illusionistic depth—only the material encounter between cold ocean water, paper, and living organisms inhabiting the image surface. The resulting deep indigo field carries the atmospheric density of the Pacific, where landscape exists not as image but as physical imprint of environment acting upon surface.
Water is constant in the artist's visual investigation, for her water is no longer the stage in which the body's memory bursts, but rather the environment and protagonist, constant operator of the image, water reveals, unveils, performs. The landscape is recorded by direct contact with the paper and the sensitive emulsion, and in this case, organic matter and the vestige of living organisms inhabit it. That is, there is no representation, but rather its direct presence as part of the work. It is almost dramaturgy, a high-sounding discussion with the visual arts, the history of Landscaping is overturned.
Acquire this cyanotype ocean landscape photography where water performs directly on cotton paper—indigo presence over representation. From Mareas by Paola Dávila. Available at The Art Design Project, Miami Beach.
Water as Presence, Cyanotype Ocean Landscape Photography. Mareas by Paola Dávila
Set of 2 Photographs, 2022
From the Mareas series.
Cyanotype on 300 gr cotton paper
Dimensions:
Overall size: 38 H x 112 W cm.
Individual size: 38 H x 56 W cm.
1. 27° 44' 30.192" N 114° 14' 36.340" W-10.
2. 28° 14' 22.942''N, 114° 6' 4.129'' W-9.
Unique
Paola Dávila was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1980. She studied Visual Arts at the National School of Plastic Arts of Mexico, where she attended the contemporary painting seminar. He also attended theory and photography workshops. In 2002, he received the National Photography Prize at the Yucatan Visual Arts Biennial, the Acquisition Prize at the IV Libertad de Arte Contest, and the state scholarship for Jovenes Creadores FOECA from the state of Oaxaca. It has nine individual exhibitions and more than 30 collective exhibitions both in Mexico and abroad. During 2010 he received the Tierney Grant awarded by the Tierney Foundation of New York for the Manuel Álvarez Bravo Photographic Center to carry out the Temporary Interiors project. He has been a beneficiary of the Young Creators Program, FONCA, in 2003, 2006 and 2011. In 2014 he received the Scholarship for Artistic Exchanges and Residencies, FONCA-Land Salzburg of Austria, thanks to which he started the Schrebergarten project. In 2017 the City of Oaxaca awarded her the degree of Distinguished Citizen, in recognition of her artistic career. In 2019 he obtained the title of Master of Visual Arts from UNAM with honorable mention. In 2021 he won the acquisition prize at the XIX National Photography Biennial, organized by the Image Center. Since 2020 he is a member of the National System of Art Creators, FONCA, CONACULTA.
