Julia Carrillo’s images were created using a darkroom, a technique that stretches back to the origins of photography. It allowed the artist to draw with light directly on photosensitive paper without the use of a conventional camera.
The project was born following the Mexican artist’s residency at the Zenato winery’s estates in Peschiera del Garda and Valpolicella.
Here Carrillo was able to observe work in the fields and in the winemaking facility during the harvest. But she was also able to delve into the importance of nature in the production process.
The vineyards were positioned using a deep understanding of the natural elements that create a sort of choreography between sun, rain, and wind.
At the same time, the artist’s images were produced using light, water, and air. In certain cases, she used direct sunlight. In others, she crafted rain and wind inside the camera obscura. The images are traces of the interaction between these elements and they translate into abstract shapes, free from interpretation.
The visual dynamism and the loss of recognizability in the subject are two defining elements of her approach to darkroom techniques.
During her work on the project, Carrillo also decided to use red wine as a filter for light. Along the way, she observed a substantial difference in the contrast in the images.
