Reference Number2016.1/D/42
LevelFile
Extent63 items
TitlePhotographs of Dye's period of experimentation using projected images
DateUndated, [c.1981-1983]
DescriptionA sampled bundle of unlabelled black and white images originally held together in a black portfolio. The photographs do not seem to relate to exhibited works, but appear to be a working file of images collated by Dye during his period of experimentation using projection and/or anamorphosis. This involved projecting photographic negatives onto black backgrounds – including walls, objects and paper - and then tracing the resulting image with white paint. Some of the experimentation included the creation of anamorphic images which could only be viewed at a certain angle. The subject matter for these works varied greatly and included staged dolls’ house furniture; a face in profile; Dye's self-portrait; images from an instructional body building poster; stencilled rose illustrations; an eagle; ancient Greek wrestlers; and a male torso. Some of the photographs have been entirely painted in black paint, save for the outline of the projected image. The majority of photographs represent experimental works captured at various stages in their creation, rather than finished pieces. None of the images are titled, but a large volume of negatives found elsewhere in the collection are labelled with rudimentary titles, enabling identification of the material. According to Dye's labelling, the photographs represent the following experimental works: 'Painted Room' [/1-2; 33-34; 37-39]; 'Deckchair Phallus' [/3; /40]; 'Profiles on palette table' [/4-5]; 'Rose on piled chairs' [/6-7]; 'Rose stencil' [/8]; 'Eagle on piled chairs' [/9-10; 41]; 'Self-portrait on chair' [13-14]; 'Weight training diagrams in corner' [/18; 42-43]; 'Muscular Mural' [21]; 'Stu diver' [22]; 'Element' [23-26]; 'Séance II (complete)' [27]; 'Séance II' [/32]; 'Stu thru doorway' [/36]; 'Painted Chair' [/44-46]; and 'Lay figure (wrestle)' [/47-48]. However, not all images could be identified using the negatives. These works relate to anamorphic drawings of wrestlers, a male torso, a fist and an anamorphic portrait of an unidentified male. The file includes contact sheets, cut-outs, one item [printed on cloth?] and some images mounted on card. Accompanied by two weight-training posters used as source material for some of the projected images [62-63].
NotesAccording to Dye's notes on the method used in producing these works (2016.1/I/4/4), Dye projected a photographic negative onto a black background and traced round the projected image using white paint. This initial painting was photographed and the negative then projected onto black painted objects, mostly furniture. The image was traced on the painted objects using white paint and then photographed from various angles. Finally, selected negatives from these photographs were then projected onto black paper and traced in white paint.

The large volume of photographs has necessitated the sampling of the file.
Related MaterialSee 2016.1/B/11 for Dye's works on paper resulting from his experimentation: 2016.1/E/47-48 for negatives related to Dye's period of experimentation; 2016.1.I/4/4 for Dye's typescript notes on producing these works; and 2016.1/A/13 for a notebook related to works produced during Dye's experimentation.
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