“Fading Memories”

I have made prints in response to my memories and thoughts from studying abroad in Italy. The iconic imagery used is easily recognizable yet has individual memories attached. These prints are meant to compare the historical narratives of the sites through reflection of modern individualism.

The natural earth tones are used to evoke a sense of calm, nostalgia, and stability. In contrast, the red tones bring excitement and adventure. The roundness, circular, and simplistic nature of the monotypes act as an empty whole into one’s memory. The fading clear imagery is the process of memory being lost. A dialogue is then created between the two types of prints. 

In Renaissance architecture, the use of circles are repeated to create a sense of enclosed harmony. For instance, the rose window of the Florence Duomo or the arched alcove that David stands in, portrays a spiritual essence of perfection. The Colosseum, in contrast, carries this similar structure, yet is an enclosed space of prior violence. When put side-by-side, the prints begin to question each other’s historical and modern narratives. This begs the question, these prints are personal imagery of my own, but are they really mine at all?