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Category: Art Blog
My darling father has just passed away from a long sickness and as I find myself missing him immensely, I look at the relationship of my own daughter with her father with new eyes. The photos are in black and white to suggest this melancholy that I am feeling…. It’s just a moment in our everyday lives, however to me, at the moment everything is related to my dearest father. These are dedicated to you sweetheart xxxx
Beautiful black and white landscapes during our road trip in France. For this post we traveled to Tetre Bal, Nantes and Locmariaquer
Whilst on a road trip around Western France, we visited Bordeaux, a really beautiful city that we instantly felt comfortable in.. This is a set of photos taken of families and children playing in the city center.
Beautiful black and white landscapes during our road trip in France. For this post we traveled to Tetre Bal, Nantes and Locmariaquer
Just spent a weekend with my family in my home island. A beautiful photo I caught of my mother playing (and loving) baby :)
2012 was a hard year for me, however it was even harder for my father and my then unborn daughter. It seemed they were not meant to meet each other, and yet they were both determined.
They fought hard, they fought for life and they won! Now I look at these photos and feel so happy and blessed.
These photos (none of them are posed) are so intimate and tender, and yet these subjects are so brave and strong. I love you.
I’m going to have to sell my beautiful vintage Volvo P1800E and as a farewell I took a session of Portraits in the Dark with Liza on the driving seat (and my mother babysitting!). I love the contrast between old and new, movement and stability.
Light allows us to see what is in front of us; darkness allows us to feel the aura of those around us.
In this set of portraits, I photograph my father in what I believe to be his element.. on his boat.
Statement for Portraits in the Dark:
Darkness can be perceived as a warm thick blanket which allows us to feel more comfortable and less restrained and self conscious in front of others. It makes us feel anonymous and personal, which in turn makes us more akin to those viewing than when we wear our daytime mask and consciously try to appear more alike to those around us. This soul, or aura is what I am trying to project in my ‘Portraits in the Dark’ series; i.e. the essence of those in front of me.
In contrast to my post 7/9 MONTHS TO CHANGE, part of A Dance in the Dark series where I took a series of photos of myself seven months pregnant feeling insecure about my future and who I was going to become (or who I was expected to become as a new mother).
I now present Alight, whereby I can now look at those casts and instead of seeing myself in them, I see something that I have moved away from. I now feel as though I’ve awoken from a long sleep. Now with baby having reached her 6 month milestone, my life seems to be much more real, I like it.
To me the darkness referred to uncertaintity about my future.. Therefore the focus on light means stability and puts me in a position where I can look forward to the future and plan for it.
When I look at these casts now, they seem to look like a peeled skin (kind of like a snake skin) full of cracks and creases and fit into a body that no longer belongs to me. This is my break from that Alexia to the new, stronger and more realised one (alas typing with one hand and trying to distract baby with the other!)
On a beautiful March day in Malta… This probably is the best time to visit the islands
The last photos of the Sea from this long visit to the beautiful island of Malta.. As you have surely noticed I was very inspired during this trip… Hope you enjoyed these photos and I’m already looking forward to my next visit in May :)
The following are two photos from last post in black and white.. Brings out a totally different feeling to the seascape..
As mentioned in a previous post, I come from an island and therefore feel a very strong connection to the sea. These are some portraits I have taken of it.
These portraits were taken at the beaches north of Ciutadella (Minorca, Spain) on a sunny winter’s day.
Sometimes life takes us places we don’t really want to go to, thoughts we don’t really want to face. But we have to. I took these photos in a period I knew that some things weren’t right, and yet I didn’t believe it yet, I couldn’t. I held on to hope and chance just like one would hold on to a prayer, or a last dance in the dark. In dark contrast to this setting of apparent comfort – my stage, my routine, my life.
I come from a tiny island country in the middle of the Mediterranean sea and since I was a child have always felt to be more in my element in the sea than on land. So being pregnant and not allowed to travel to the sea was particularly hard for me.
Until now. Last weekend the doctor gave me the go ahead to travel and I spent a lovely time swimming – I just couldn’t get out of the sea :-)
These are a couple of photos taken underwater.
I’ve been going through a difficult pregnancy and have been stuck at home for a while now. Since I am usually a very active, outgoing and sociable person this has been very hard for me.
Although I love being pregnant and ‘interacting’ with baby, I feel as though I’ve lost who I was before, like I’ve lost my spark and my whole outside world has disappeared and only my inside (also inside the house) world exists.
I’ve taken some photos for the A Dance in the Dark series and I guess they represent this melanchonic feeling I cannot seem to shake off.. I’m not sharing these photos with my friends, sometimes it’s easier to share with strangers.
The books represent the readings and attempt at preparation for this new role whereas the casts were made to celebrate my 30th year and various stages of my pregnancy. They also represent various versions of me (if that makes sense!).
A MALTESE FAMILY: Grandparents, siblings and son
A study on the facial likenesses passed on through generations, notwithstanding age and gender.
In continuation with the SIMILARITIES series, I investigate methods to show physical alikeness between faces in a simple and visual way.
Grandmother and Mother
Grandmother and Mother smiling
Brother and Sister
Mother and Son I
Mother and Son II
Smiling Grandmother, Grandfather, Brother and Sister
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives. These photos were sent to me from the models via email.
The subconscious, dark, restless forced rest.
I’m in a state of big changes and this shows especially at night. I cannot sleep, and when I do, my dreams are very vivid and scary. I wake up every morning feeling tired and lost… what’s happening to me? Will I be a bad mother? Why am I running away all the time? Why am I so scared? – And then apparently it’s normal.
Father and Son
Brother and Sister
Mother and Daughter
This set is called: Similarities: A family based in Barcelona
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Rosa and Pilar
This set is called: Similarities: Two Sisters from Madrid
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Brother and Sister
This set is called: A Family from the Virgin Islands
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
Mother and Daughter, smiling
Mother and Daughter
Brother and Sister, smiling
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Two Brothers: John and Frank
This set is called: Two Brothers from Malta
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Light allows us to see what is in front of us; darkness allows us to feel the aura of those around us.
Darkness can be perceived as a warm thick blanket which allows us to feel more comfortable and less restrained and self conscious in front of others. It makes us feel anonymous and personal, which in turn makes us more akin to those viewing than when we wear our daytime mask and consciously try to appear more alike to those around us. This soul, or aura is what I am trying to project in my ‘Portraits in the Dark’ series; i.e. the essence of those in front of me.
A Mother and her two daughters
A study on the facial likenesses passed on through generations, notwithstanding age and gender.
In continuation with the SIMILARITIES series, I investigate methods to show physical alikeness between faces in a simple and visual way.
Mother and Daughter I
Mother and Daughter II
Sisters
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives. These photos were sent to me from the models via email.
AN INTERNATIONAL FAMILY living in Malta/Canada: Grandmother and her two daughters
A study on the facial likenesses passed on through generations, notwithstanding age and gender.
In continuation with the SIMILARITIES series, I investigate methods to show physical alikeness between faces in a simple and visual way.
Grandmother and Daughter I
Grandmother and Daughter II
Grandmother and Daughters
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives. These photos were sent to me from the models via email.
This set is called: A Mother and Her Daughter
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
A Mother and Her Daughter: Dulce and Clara
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Two Brothers: Pepe and Patro
This set is called:Two Brothers from Albacete, Spain
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
Two Brothers: Pepe and Patro smiling
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Mother and Son: Encarnación and Ceferino
This set is called: A Grandmother and her Son from Ponferrada, León, Spain
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
This is new work based on a mother and daughter from Edinburgh, Scotland.
_You probably know Jeni, from the Mithing and Rhizomes and Joy blogs as an intellectual artist and a past subject of my Portraits in the Dark series an collaborator in What Juan Saw When He Looked Into The Bin installation.
In this project, I studied Jeni and her mother Rosemary’s facial features and merged them to different degrees, suggesting them at different ages and creating different personalities based on the facial characteristics selected.
Click on the thumbnails below to view the images larger
These photos were sent to me via email, if you are interested in producing something similar with your photos, send me your photos (in high resolution and in similar positions) to alexia@alexiamedici.com
Mother and Daughter: Rosemary and Jeni
This set is called: A Mother and Daughter from Edinburgh, Scotland
As part of the series: Similarities: An Investigation on Hereditary Alikeness which goes beyond generations, age and gender.
As part of an ongoing investigation on hereditary genes and the way they are received from parents and passed on to their offspring, I focus my attention on physical likeness in my Similarities series.
Unlike my previous work, this series of work is not based on image manipulation, making the project refreshingly simple. The exhibition consists of photos of real people on transparent sheets overlaid on top of one another – allowing the viewer to witness the resemblance passed through generations in a clear and easy way.
The process is extremely simple, yet the results are fascinating.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
In my last post I continued working on the concept of similarities within families, in this post I am concerned with presenting the idea. Physically showing the idea behind the artwork is another matter. My first attempt is printing the original photos on transparencies and then placing these transparencies on top of one another.
In the examples below I separated the family into two sets: mother and son & father and daughter
I am still having problems with this proposals the pictures need back lighting to show, also, it would be interesting to find a way for viewers to compare the faces easily.. I’m thinking light boxes and frames.. if you have any other suggestions, please let me know.
A study on the facial likenesses passed on through generations, notwithstanding age and gender.
In Continuation with my last post Similarities: Mother, Son and Daughter, I studied the similarities between the whole family as a set. The similarities between all is bewitching (as can be seen in the sharp areas of the photos, such as in the eyes.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Click on the images below to see them in full size)…
A study on the facial likenesses passed on through generations, notwithstanding age and gender.
In continuation with the thinking process behind the Merged series, I investigate methods to show physical similarities and differences between faces in a simple and visual way. Here I study the facial features of a mother and her two children. I find it very interesting to see that their eyes are identical, noses are practically the same and so are their mouths and face shape.
Mother, Son and Daughter
A FAMILY FROM BARCELONA
Brother and Sister
Father and Daughter
Mother and Daughter
Mother and Son
A study on the facial likenesses passed on through generations, notwithstanding age and gender.
In Continuation, I studied the similarities between the whole family as a set. The similarities between all is bewitching (as can be seen in the sharp areas of the photos, such as in the eyes.
NB: the photos themselves have not been edited on photoshop, I have just made the layers transparent so as to better see the similarities between relatives.
Click on the images below to see them in full size)…
As an offshoot from my Merged Series, I am creating a new series which is called Related.
The basic idea is the same, i.e. merging different faces together, but the concept here is different. This isn’t a study on races and where we originally came from, this is shorter term and more direct: the similarities and differences that lie within each family member. In my personal life I am currently seeing many of my friends having children and I am always interested in the way children might look like a combination of their parents or grandparents – or look totally different and look like their more distant relatives.
In this project I merge the faces of family members, be it grandmothers, with mothers and daughters, or cousins, or siblings thus creating a series of alternative family portraits. In these portraits all members add up to one familiar, yet unexpected and unknown new person – with the personality these facial features entail.
The first series of photos belongs to my husband’s family.
Click on the images below to view them and the original photos I had taken of them enlarged.
A series of melancholic and intimate self portraits of me at home exploring various deeply personal and important subjects whilst experimenting with light.. What does each location represent? The symbols are clear, the future is not..
A set of introspective self portraits depicting the loneliness and doubt associated with the artist’s struggle
to make the decision.. Light versus dark, stability versus the unknown,
reason versus the emotional and intuitive.
For this new project, I collected used and worn out shoes from the Alella community.
The shoes were lit up from the interior and then be exhibited at Can Manyé in the wine village of Alella (Catalunya) from the 6th of May.
Why shoes?…..Shoes are personal; we choose them to join us in our life experiences, travels and work. We might love them and wear them to shreds or might turn cold and give them away after being used just once. It would be interesting to see the spectrum of shoes used in a wine making interior village in comparison to another potential exhibition using unwanted shoes from the city.
The people behind the shoes
This morning I went to Alella to collect discarded shoes and enjoy a chat in the sun whilst doing so.. below are some of my favourite shoe givers: a lovely group of gentlemen who call themselves La Moncloa as they are always on the same benches at the park discussing life and politics.. the shoes they gave me were either theirs or belonged to their families and grandchildren..
Also, whilst setting up the exhibition, the crew from Maresme TV filmed us whilst preparing the exhibition
Promotional material
Alella Project and Discarded Shoes on Catalan TV Whilst setting up the Alella exhibition a couple of us were interviewed by Maresme TV, a local Catalan TV channel for the coast between Barcelona and the Costa Brava (north of Barcelona).
Click on the screenshot below to see the footage and me looking very rough and tired ;-)
Projecte Alella: Discarded Shoes – Buy / Preview the book
In La Selva Oscura (the dark forest)
Light installation; paper felt, white paper cuttings, a printed moon in front of a white light bulb in the background and roots and dried up plants and twigs
70x50cm
2011
What Juan Saw When He Looked Inside The Bin
Installation,70x70x85
Exhibited at: Untitled BCN as part of the “Stairway To..” group exhibition
by: Alexia Medici and Jeni Cumming. Continue reading “What Juan Saw When He Looked Inside the Bin”
For Posterity: we can never go back to where we are now…
The Many Worlds Theory in quantum physics states that our universe is not the only one, but that many other universes exist parallel to each other. These are known as Parallel Universes.
The aim here is to represent this spacetime theory in art.
I focused on one particular time and three similar, yet parallel lives
Credits:
Photography by Christina Medici and Hector Picazo
Concept, digital manipulation and model: Alexia Medici
alexia medici 