This darkroom piece was made using Solarisation which is a technique where the light gets shone onto the paper as normal for 10 seconds and then dipped into the first chemical. Once it starts to appear it gets taken out and put under the light again for another 5 seconds and then place it back into the chemicals as normal.
This was the best one of the multiple attempts I did.
This is the first attempt at solarisation in the darkroom.
What I could have done better for next time is to not cut out around the design because then the lines would not show on the paper.
I intend to use this design in my final piece.
This is my first idea for a final piece. This shows the difference between me and most Pakistani girls. I grew up being outside and distant from my culture so I was not used to seeing or hearing anything to do with my culture.
This is my second idea for my final piece. The context for this one is that I grew up in an English speaking home and did not learn my native language so whenever a family member attempts to communicate with me in Urdu they always ask “do you understand?” and i don’t understand anything other than that question. This idea is very personal for me and I feel like a lot of others who experience the same will relate to this.
This is my third idea for my final piece. This is heavily inspired by myself and how much I have learnt about myself and belonging in my culture. It is me talking to my younger self who did not think culture was that important.
I have chosen this design because it is the most personal to me and highlights an experience that happens to me all the time.
These are the henna designs I am deciding to use in my final piece. the first one is the one I used in darkroom. The second one my cousin did for me on Eid.