ALMA- this image is of ‘The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international partnership of Europe, North America and East Asia in cooperation with the Republic of Chile, is the largest astronomical project in existence. ALMA will be a single telescope of revolutionary design, composed initially of 66 high precision antennas located on the Chajnantor plateau, 5000 meters altitude in northern Chile.’ (http://www.almaobservatory.org/)

Alma also when read as one word, means SOUL. I thought this was appropriate for my project about the Atacama, where these telescopes hide in the middle of the desert behind a mountain range. I used found images to create a photo etching on two plates. The etching will be part of a series on this technological landscape that is mapping the heavens in an unprecedented way- to find the origins of life and the universe.

These smaller prints are now being turned into a large 100 cm x 70 cm photoetching. Its the largest plate that can go through the presses at Camberwell, and the largest plate I have ever attempted. Just exposing it, and developing it in itself poses all kinds of challenges. I have now started to print them using a velvety black RSR ink- it takes about an hour to ink up the plate and polish it before pulling the print. Here is the process as it happened:

This print has been the most enjoyable piece for me- hard work in the heat of the Summer in the print workshop, but very satisfying. Tried it on Hahnemule paper at first, but once I put this up against the wall i realized I needed a whiter paper- have now printed an edition of 5 on Fabriano white, which have come out really well.