The Path: Project 1 – Documentation & Reflections

The Path is a project that explores our fluid relationship with passion and ambition. This piece, the first in my Fleeting Glow series, draws on the metaphor of a journey—sometimes smooth like desert sands, other times jagged like mountain paths, and every so often, rewarding like a shady palm oasis. Through cyanotype prints on cotton and scattered stones, I’m aiming to capture the experience of facing obstacles, both natural and man-made, as we strive toward our goals.

Concept

Inspired by the landscapes of Sharjah where I grew up, The Path is a reflection on how our surroundings shape us and our ambitions. Each cyanotype image was made from photographs I took of Sharjah’s desert landscapes, symbolizing the impact of these spaces on my own life. The prints feature desert, mountain, and palm tree scenes, connecting the physical journey with the inner one that drives our ambitions and dreams.

The natural and synthetic rocks on the ground represent the obstacles we encounter—some part of life’s organic challenges, others artificially imposed. Ultimately, I hope viewers can find elements of their own journey in this work and reflect on the delicate balance between striving for dreams and overcoming obstacles along the way.

Materials:

• Watercolor paper

• Imagery acetate sheets: cyanotypes of desert, mountain, and palm tree scenes

• Cyanotype chemicals (ferric ammonium citrate, potassium ferricyanide)

• UV light (upgraded from 20W to 60W for better exposure)

• Rocks: a mix of synthetic and natural

The Cyanotype Process

Cyanotype is a 19th-century technique that creates deep blue images using UV light. This method connects deeply with the culture and landscape I grew up with, as it relies on the strength of sunlight—something that shaped my life in Sharjah’s ever-present desert sun. In Shanghai, sunlight is scarce, so I substituted with a UV light to achieve the same effect, though I started with a 20W bulb that was too weak and eventually upgraded to a 60W.

Installation Details

The piece covered a whole wall, stretching approximately 220 cm long and 84 cm wide. Rocks spread out from the base about 2-3 feet into the space, arranged to resemble natural landscape densities. This setup created an immersive “path” for viewers, inviting them to walk alongside and feel connected to the environment I’ve created.

My papers drying, chemicals washing out of fabric, 20W results after 1 hour of exposure

Reflections on Process:

1. Challenges and Adaptations:

   • UV Exposure: Initially, I tried a 20W UV light for exposure but quickly realized it was too weak. After some research, I upgraded to a 60W light, which worked well and reinforced how essential it is to adapt when facing unexpected limitations.

   • Fabric Absorption: My first fabric choice was nylon-based, and it didn’t absorb the cyanotype solution well, resulting in washed-out prints. Switching to 100% cotton solved this, creating more vibrant images and a satisfying texture.

Inspiration & Personal Connection:

Growing up in Sharjah’s landscapes inspired the visuals and textures in The Path. From the dry desert sands to the rare greenery of palm trees, each element reflects a piece of my personal history. This project combines my cultural roots with the metaphor of ambition, showing how these landscapes have shaped my own journey. This project reinforced how important it is to stay flexible with materials and methods. The creative problem-solving I practiced here will definitely be helpful in future projects, especially as I continue exploring textiles and non-traditional materials.

Room for Growth

If I revisit this project, I’d expand the installation to create a longer path, adding ambient desert sounds—think wind and sand—to make it even more immersive. I received great feedback about adding a “please touch” sign, allowing viewers to interact directly with the piece. I think this would add a tactile element that could make the work feel even more personal and engaging.

Journey reflection:

Creating The Path as a solo endeavor felt deeply personal, allowing me to immerse myself in a creative journey that mirrored my own experiences and thoughts. This solitude fostered a unique introspection, where each detail was carefully considered and felt profoundly my own. Yet, even in this independent space, the guidance of others was invaluable: Sebastian’s expertise in laser cutting helped me refine the precision of my designs, Ishraki’s assistance with large-format printing brought my vision to life on a scale that felt both daunting and rewarding, and Santiago’s imaginative insights helped me see my ideas in new ways. Their contributions reminded me that even in a solo journey, meaningful connections and shared knowledge can shape the final outcome. Looking ahead, I’m excited for future collaborations, but I deeply value the creative freedom and reflection this project allowed me.

The path in relationship to Materialism and the Anthropocene

The Path serves as a thoughtful exploration of how materiality and the Anthropocene intertwine within our pursuit of passion and ambition. By incorporating both natural and synthetic elements—such as rocks and cyanotype prints—this piece reflects the material reality of human impact on the environment. The synthetic stones symbolize obstacles that are often artificially imposed, paralleling the Anthropocene's influence on reshaping natural landscapes. Cotton fabric, a product of industrial agriculture, and cyanotype chemicals also nod to our material dependency, highlighting how our pursuits often rely on manipulated resources. In engaging with these materials, The Path addresses our dual relationship with nature, as both inheritors of organic landscapes and creators of synthetic ones, underscoring a message about how personal and collective ambitions contribute to an evolving, often disrupted, environment. This reflection on our material impacts invites viewers to consider how the Anthropocene era—defined by human intervention and environmental transformation—frames and challenges our personal journeys and goals.