What is a chemigram? A chemigram is a type of experimental photography crossed with chemistry and physics. Chemicals are 'painted' across light sensitive paper and then developed using a developer and fixer. The chemicals can be anything from anything from syrup to granite cleaner (preferably translucent). They are referred to as 'localising' products. Chemigrams are created without using a camera (alike to photograms) however are created in full light, not in a darkroom with an enlarger.
The definition of 'chemigrams' comes from 'chemistry' and 'gramma' from the Greek word for 'things written'. It can also be translated as 'chemistry that writes' as photograms are 'light that writes'
Chemigrams were first invented by Pierre Cordier in 1956 when he made a birthday card to a German girl named Erica using nail varnish to write "happy 21st Erica" onto light sensitive photographic paper. He was told by Brassi, a famous photographer, to keep the idea to himself but later decided against Brassi's instruction and believes it is not important to be 'the first to make them', but the fact that they will continue to be created by anyone and everyone around the globe. He created has been criticised and described as a faux-artist and faux-painter, and comically, a 'faux-tograph'. This has shown the importance, not of the way people perceive and can appreciate your art, but the beauty and joy in the development and creation.
Creating chemigrams in our lesson, we used a range of chemical materials including jam, washing up liquid, honey, oil etc. - The first step was to choose around 3-4 localising products and apply them to the photosensitive paper using a paintbrush, sponge, pouring ect. - The paper with the chemical components is then left in the light for around 5 minutes - The paper is added to the developer and left for around 60 seconds before transferring to the fixer and washing and drying. (With two of my chemigrams, I reversed the developing process and used the fixer before the developer, which reduced the developing affect and the chemigrams came out lighter)
These are my 5 chemigrams with the last two having been developed in reverse:
Coconut oil, nail varnish, orange jelly
Jam, nail varnish, ornage jelly
orange ink, nail varnish, honey, washing up liquid
Vinegar, olive oil, jam (reversed development)
Chocolate icing, nail varnish, pink ink (reversed development)
My chemigrams were successful however not all came out as contrasted as id hoped. This however shows the different effects of chemicals, time left in the light and sequence of the developing process. I would have liked to experiment further with different combinations of chemicals as well as the methods and pattern of applying them to the paper. I really enjoyed the process and idea behind creating chemigrams as pushes the boundaries of the term photography and forces rick taking as the final product of what you are creating is unknown.