binh danh: chlorophyll printed photographs

‘found portrait: man 28’ chlorophyll print and resin 12.5 x 12.5 inches image © binh danh

organic in method, vietnamese-born photographer and artist binh danh has created a body of work using leaves as his canvas. referred to as ‘chlorophyll printing’, the natural process involves a negative of a photograph being placed over a leaf which is then exposed to sunlight for a period of days. the green pigments of the plant will darken accordingly, resulting in a ghostly and monochrome image that are preserved in a block of resin.

exploring his vietnamese heritage especially as it pertains to war and death, danh’s work evokes a haunting sense of loss and mortality. by recording the images on the surface of leaves, the historical narrative is emblazoned into the natural world, resulting in an exceptionally moving collection of work.

‘found portrait: woman 25’ chlorophyll print and resin 12 x 19.5 inches image © binh danh

ambush in the leaf #4′ chlorophyll print and resin 17.5 x 13.5 inches image © binh danh

‘the botany of tuol sleng #12’ chlorophyll print and resin 11 x 10 inches image © binh danh

‘mother and child’ chlorophyll print and resin 7 x 5 inches image © binh danh

‘shock & awe’ chlorophyll print and resin 22.5 x 17 inches image © binh danh

‘found portrait #5’ chlorophyll print and resin 17.5 x 11.5 inches image © binh danh

‘the leaf effect: study for transmission #13’ chloophyll print and resin 10 x 13 inches image © binh danh

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