During June—August 2010, we exhibited a new series of photographs by our gallery artist, Elaine Duigenan, entitled Micro Mundi. In this intimate series of images, she has photographed the arterial wanderings of snails, as they graze upon algae, leaving behind an aftermath of claw-like patterns—caused by the rasping action of the snail’s spiky tongue.
Orbis Atlantis from the Micro Mundi series. © 2010 Elaine Duigenan
On a micro level, these rambling, chaotic and protracted patterns, attest to a seemingly plodding yet vigorous life-form. On a macro level, they’re dendritic appearance resemble earth’s estuaries as viewed from far above. By presenting the images within a circular frame, these stunning monochromatic photographs are transformed into floating planets, as we would imagine them to be on a cosmic scale. The planetary metaphor is further enhanced with titles that refer to cartographic terms of old, that placed Earth in a philosophical and religious setting.
Prior to their completion and exhibition, an image from Micro Mundi was launched into space on Shuttle Atlantis on November 16th 2009.
This came about as a collaboration with Astronaut Leland Melvin, who was so taken with the ideas in the work, that he offered to carry an image on the mission and photograph it in a window of The International Space Station. Below is Elaine Duigenan's photograph, Orbis Atlantis, in the The Kibo Lab and photographed by Leland Melvin to connect with the Earth (see the Amazon River).
Mission STS-129. 171 orbits round the Earth, 17,500 mph, distance 4,490,138 miles. Image © 2009 Leland Melvin/NASA.
As we write, Space Shuttle Atlantis is completing its final mission. You can own both a small piece of its illustrious legacy and an exquisite photograph by a talented artist. Orbis Atlantis is available for purchase through the gallery in two editions.
14" diameter, 24"x20" sheet (Edition of 5, 2 AP's), Availability: 2 & 1 AP
18.5" diameter, 32"x24" sheet (Edition of 2, 1AP), Availability: 2 & 1 AP
Medium: Pigment Print on Hahnemühle Cotton Rag
A copy of the above certificate accompanies each edition of Orbis Atlantis.
