Pierre Cordier - Chemigram

For me, Pierre Cordier's work was the most intriguing at the Shadow Catchers exhibition.  This is due to the fact that I have never seen the process he uses before.  The process of the chemigram was discovered by himself in 1956, where he experimented with the surface of photographic paper, like a painter would a canvas.  He applies developer and fixer to various areas of the paper to create lighter and darker tones and went on to explore the effect of 'localising' areas to create shapes and patterns with the use of products such as; glue, varnish wax, oil and syrup.  These products protect the surface of the photographic emulsion or "can be incised to create a drawing, graphic motif or written text." (Shadow Catchers exhibition leaflet)  For me this technique leaves the viewer pondering over how such a photograph could possibly be created.  Some details are so precise it is hard to believe that it is not a painting with its exact application of chemicals to the surface.  I don't think you can fully understand the process and the quality of the work until you have experimented with the chemigram technique, which is something I plan on doing.