"Electric Script – A Letter to Cy Twombly"

A photographic project inspired by  Cy Twombly, focusing on gestural light painting. Capturing movement spontaneity and the layered expressiveness of mark making through photography.

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After seeing  an exhibition in 2023  of Cy Twombly at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston “Past is Present “ I was struck by his gesture as mark making/- scribbles – loops and raw expressive lines.  . In particular some of the works from his series Ferragosto (in 1961) - with overlapping scribbles of red - blue and white. Or Leda and Swan 1962 among other of his works further highlighting  his signature language of abstraction , movement and repetition.  

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I was inspired by these elements when I began  to experiment with photography in a similar gestural way. Interpreting Twombly’s visual language of looping gestures , marks and layered abstraction. Using various lights sources and gestural camera movements ,I sought to create the energy and spontaneity of his mark making. 

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The project consists of over 50 images reflecting Twombly’s common elements found throughout  his oeuvre. By incorporating multiple and different color light sources along with long exposures, I created  layered  ,overlapping forms and dynamic gestures. The erratic fluid and controlled gestures  of his work was replicated  with my own similar movements of the camera and body. At the core of the process is light as ink and paint.

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While my work does not reference Twombly’s classical or mythological themes, it directly engages with his gestural mark-making, offering a photographic interpretation of his artistic vocabulary.