Philomela Over the Golden Skies

Title | PHILOMELA OVER THE GOLDEN SKIES Type | Original Gold Cyanotype
Inspiration | Greek Goddess Philomela
Year | 2023

Materials | Cyanotype, handmade paper, 24-carat gold leaf 12.2 inches frame diameter x 1.2 frame depth

Inspiration-
This artwork was inspired by Philomela, a Greek mythological figure known as the princess of Athens. This empowering fable of Philomela’s metamorphosis into a nightingale conveys a message of perseverance, self-determination and shows resilience in the face of adversity.

By breaking enforced silence to reclaim her voice, she is a forerunner for the mute protagonists of folk and fairy tales, embodying the archetype of the female storyteller, actively rebelling against oppression and exploring silence as a feminist issue.

This mythical fable not only describes a woman’s enforced silence but also presents her perseverance and self-determination in spite of losing her physical voice. Philomela not only embodies the later archetype of the female storyteller but also breaks her enforced silence by speaking in another mode to recover her voice.

Philomela presents the prototype for stories of women who devise other ways of speaking when they cannot speak physically. Without a physical voice, Philomela resorts to storytelling through weaving; she writes her story because she cannot speak it.

Technique-
Philomela Over The Golden Skies was created by photographing a hand-cut collage of female photographic portraiture, an illustration of a nightingale combined with a photogram created from a deconstructed polaroid negative and manipulated emulsion.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large scale negative is then contact printed onto the paper by exposing to daylight (UV rays). The print is then processed by thoroughly washing in water to remove any unexposed solution. It can then be hung to dry,

developing to full density Prussian blue after 24 hours. Once the image is fixed it is hand finished with 24-carat gold leaf.

Dimensions

Framed: 12.2 inches frame diameter x 1.2 frame depth

Paper

Handmade recycled cotton rag paper:
150gsm / 100% Cotton Rag / Recycled / Acid Free / Medium Rough

Mount

We use float mounting for all of our framed cyanotypes. The artwork floats above a snow-white 8001 mount board, to showcase the paper texture and deckled edging.

Framing

Framed artwork will arrive ready to hang.
Each frame is handmade by our London based design team.

All frames come with gallery spec, 3mm thick Artglass AR70 / 3mm anti-reflective/ 79% UV protected glazing as standard.

If clients would like a bespoke frame, please let me know as I can have them made in alternative colours, gilding and glazing options.