Patterns of Ink in Water and Air: Creating Radial Spreads of Ink in Water

Radial spreads are made by placing different types of ink and paint over each other. Then, when gravity ‘activates’ the spread, causing the ink to move outward, the resulting patterns of ink are photographed. Recent work shows how different types of ink react to the force of the spread (by, for instance, forming thin films, or becoming filamentous). Different types of ink can be used in conjunction to reveal different parts of the spread. Regular shapes in tessellations, underwater 3D forms, and airborne radial spreads have been observed. Radial spreads of ink in water can be seen in terms of both art and science. Artistic aspects include an exploration of ink textures, and comparisons are made with other natural and man-made materials. Parallels between radial spreads and organic life forms are made, and new juxtapositions of the ‘birth, life and death’ of the spreads are found. Connections are made between the small-scale world of ink in water, and large-scale objects, e.g. cosmic phenomena. Ambiguous imagery, requiring an imaginative contribution from the viewer, is explored. Long-term aims are to collaborate with those interested in the science of diffusion to build up visual profiles of inks, and also to develop 3D chromatography. Artistically, links with other natural forms will be explored. More images are at www.chronoscapes.co.uk.