Vanishing World

As an individual diagnosed with the genetic disorder Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, I have struggled with the increasing possibility of going blind. As an artist, losing my vision would be particularly tragic since I use my sight as an essential tool for creating photography and visual art. In my most recent work, I use the camera to visualize a fading world I may no longer be able to see. The darkroom was intentionally used for creating the pieces in my portfolio, as it deprives the artist of sight and clarity as the work is created. Images were purposefully deconstructed with techniques that are difficult to control, including burning, bleaching, dissolving, and the inconsistent but nontoxic Caffenol developer. The pieces were then fixed with salt, leaving a crystalized residue and resulting in an image that is still sensitive to light. I would like the viewer to be left struggling to hang onto something tangible while the photographs appear to dissolve in their sight. In addition, I hope to communicate empathy for those struggling with a rare disease.