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MASTERCLASS | ONLINE | LIVE
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Mordançage: From Black and White to Colour

Ella Morton

Duration

9 hours

Price

300 euros

Lenguage

English

This masterclass will introduce participants to the fundamentals of mordançage. Mordançage is an obscure darkroom technique developed in the 1970s by French photographer Jean-Pierre Sudre, which evolved from the 19th-century bleach etching process. In the first part of the workshop, we will learn how to produce gelatin silver prints in the darkroom that are best suited to mordançage. We will discuss the chemistry components, the bleaching and developing steps, and the emulsion handling techniques to add veils and textures to each print using the mordançage chemistry. In the second part of the workshop, we will learn an innovative technique to apply mordançage chemistry to colour negative film. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of this haunting process and leave the workshop with the knowledge to create fully realised mordançage prints and negatives.

Designed for: Those who want to delve deeper into this experimental image intervention technique.

Admission requirements: Basic analog laboratory knowledge is recommended.

Price: 300 euros.

Duration: 3 sessions, each 3 hours.

Modality: Online and live with the artist.

Language: English.

Start dates: To be decided by everyone when there are 4 pre-registered participants. The class will be on a weekday from 6 to 9 pm (Spanish time).

What's included:

• Unlimited access to all content of live and pre-recorded classes (workshops, conferences and additional downloadable materials) for life. • Be a member of the Ágora Community: participate for free in our monthly Online Meetings (October 23, November 20, January 29, February 26, March 19, April 30 and May 21) and show your work in our social networks. • Access the exclusive Ágora Community group on WhatsApp with exclusive discounts, direct access to teachers and the Ágora team, monthly information, special content.

Necessary materials:

Program:

Session 1 Introduction to mordançage
  • Materials:

History, contemporary artists who use the process, chemical components of mordançage solution and how it reacts with the emulsion.
Preparation: Materials and safety gear required. How to make a good print for mordançage. 
Practice: Doing mordançage on a silver gelatin print from start to finish.

Session 2 Review of the results of black and white prints and preparation of colour mordançage
  • Materials:

Critique work and discuss any challenges. 
Introduction to colour mordançage: Contemporary artists using colour mordançage and chemical considerations when working with colour. 
Preparation: Explanation of colour film development, how to adjust the process for mordançage and review of where to buy chemicals. Discussion of the use of differentfilm formats.

Session 3 Mordançage on colour film
  • Materials:

Recap colour film development and discuss any challenges. 
Practice: Mordançage on colour film from start to finish.
Final Review: Discuss work and last questions.

ella morton portrait

Your Teacher

ELLA MORTON

Canadian visual artist and filmmaker living in Tkarón:to/Toronto. Her expedition-based practice has taken her to residencies and projects in Canada, Scandinavia, Greenland, and Antarctica. Working primarily with lens-based media, she uses experimental analogue processes to capture the sublime and fragile qualities of remote landscapes. She earned a BFA from Parsons School of Design (New York) and an MFA from York University (Toronto). She has exhibited in Canada, the US and Denmark and her work has appeared in a variety of publications. In 2021, her project The Dissolving Landscape won the Environmental Award as part of the Center Awards at Review Santa Fe.

@ellasharpmorton

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