Alphabet City | Art from the Anthologies
About The Work
In Fossils, Stefan Petranek's contribution to AbC's WATER anthology, footprints of photographs in the snow prompt us to consider the impact of our actions on the natural world.
Fossil #1, 2008
"Backlighting impressions of my own footprints in snow, the Fossil series became a means of questioning my impact on the natural world. The idea of photographing one's own footprints as evidence is somewhat cliché but current concerns for the environment have also freed the 'footprint' from its physical manifestation to represent the impacts all of our actions have on the natural world. But even in these times when fears of a climate meltdown seem inevitable, its clear to me too that our individual impression upon nature is but momentary and will soon fade away just like the snow. This tension of temporal uncertainty speaks to the complexity of our relationship with nature."
About the Print
These editions, supervised by the artist, are printed with archival pigment inks on a glossy Photographic paper. The ink and paper combination have a display permanence rating of 150+ years. All our prints are made with the greatest attention to quality and a concern for permanence.
About the Artist
Stefan Petranek
Influenced by his formal training in biology and chemistry, Stefan Petranek is interested in examining the linkage between the self and the underlying physical world. Training his camera at both the odd and delightful he is particularly fascinated in how patterns from natural phenomena around us hold insight into nature’s organization.
Beyond his accomplishments as an exhibiting artist, Stefan is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, New York.
