Laminariales XIII presents oceanic botanical cyanotype where majestic kelp structures emerge through water's direct mediation—organic marine matter inhabiting photosensitive surface rather than being depicted. Dávila's process overturns landscape tradition: water reveals and performs, pressing underwater vegetation onto cotton emulsion to create deep indigo forest forms. The vertical composition carries botanical drama, immersing viewers in oceanic atmospheric depth where presence replaces representation.
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.
Oceanic botanical cyanotype where underwater forest forms emerge through direct water mediation—majestic marine vegetation. Laminariales XIII from Bosque by Paola Dávila. Available at The Art Design Project, Miami Beach.
Oceanic Botanical Cyanotype – Laminariales XIII by Paola Dávila
Laminariales XIII, 2022
From the series Bosque
Cyanotype on 300 gr cotton paper
Dimensions: 160 Hx 38 W cm.
Unique
Signed by the artist
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.
