"Investigating the Big Blue": cyanotype workshop in two parts, Amorgos, Cyclades, Greece by Hannah L. M. Eßler

A 2-part module by the MA Transdisciplinary Studies of ZHdK, Department Kulturanalysen und Vermittlung. Held by Anna Rubi & Eirini Sourgiadaki. Autumn 2023-Spring 2024 Colour perception varies, so do the semantics of colour terminology, for both sighted and blind individuals. The questions around colour perception from ophthalmology or neurobiology perspectives to cognitive and artistic ones, are infinite: Is there a universal human experience of the blue sky, the green grass and the brown soil? How is colour perceived in the brain, how is it translated into a communicable concept and how does it affect our perceived world, our mental and physical state? What is the role of colour in synesthesia? And most importantly, does colour have to do just with vision? In this module we work with the generation of blue colour on print, using the major light source available, the Sun. The Island of Amorgos is often referred to as “Le grand bleu” after the famous french film was shot at location. Its ancient name is “Melania”. “Melani”, the Greek word for ink, (“Melano” for dark blue, cyan) as it is said that in ancient times the place was covered with dark green flora. Our investigation begins exactly with this deep tint. We pay a visit to the famous monastery and the water oracle, walk the trails to observe the sensual -not only vision-based- shades of blue. In the spring term, we participate in local activities such as beach clean-up initiatives of the remote bays by local fishermen and their boats. We visit bee-hives and herb-distilleries, we work with the most basic bits and pieces of the island to capture its essence.

// Try again. Fail again. Fail better.//

Studies found that meditation changes people’s perception of time. How we perceive time is a perspective. To me, the time in Hong Kong (GMT+8), Zürich (GMT+1) and Amorgos (GMT+2) are different. In Hong Kong time is static. I was constantly waiting for something to change. The time in Zürich flows like water. Here in Amorgos, time passes in irregular motions, sometimes faster, sometimes very slow.

Our body also has its own pace of time. The longest time my body has ever had experienced probably was the last 10km of my one and only marathon race. Lying down and staying still in a position for 30 minutes seems a long time. But my body enjoyed the bliss of just being here and now. To be able to feel, to be able to breathe and live.

We work with Cyanotypes. That means we are working with the Sun and time. Is it a good time to do the work? Are the materials exposing in the Sun long enough? We never know if we don’t try. When we try, failures might follow. The landscape here keeps reminding me how people in the past lived through the tough climate and environment to contribute to the building of the civilisation. “We will be forgotten”, Derek Jarman said in an angst-ridden tone in his film “Blue”, that we watched together here in Amorgos. Yes, we will, that’s for sure, but our blueprints will somehow be somewhere here. Because we have tried to experience time.

Sharon Chan

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