Dean Ebben
Works
Evaporation, Transformation is a site-specific wall collage documenting the artist’s interactions with fabric covered in stars. The stars were printed directly on the fabric by cyanotype, a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. Through this photogram procedure, Ebben laid cardboard stars directly on fabric and then exposed it to the sun, producing a silhouette effect. In setting up his self-portrait series, Ebben hung the photographically printed fabric on a wall behind him, providing himself with an ethereal backdrop.
In Evaporation, Transformation, Ebben explores the symbolism of the ever recognizable icon of the star. The star is emblematic of the universe and the cosmos, nations and their militaries. They represent notions of protection and achievement and provide guidance in times of need. The image of a star means something different to everyone. In these photographs, Ebben stands in front of the stars, reaches for the stars or wraps himself in the printed fabric. Due to the unpredictability of the cyanotype process, some of the printed stars are hazily reproduced and appear to be falling off the fabric. Ebben mimics the ghostly quality of these stars in his self-representations, showing himself out of focus or out of view. His substantial self seems to be evaporating and transforming into a recognizable yet unknown mist. He becomes the stars as well as someone new. Like the transformation taking place in the Geist series, Ebben takes something familiar and makes it novel, forcing us to break free of our previously held perceptions of both stars, Ebben and ourselves. Heather Cammarata-Seale
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