Exploring the materiality of printmaking as a response to digital anxiety through the process of handling physically contact prints.
Yimin Xiang is studying at The Glasgow School of Art
My research examines the impact of digital anxiety on image perception and explores printmaking as a response to this issue. It addresses concerns about authenticity, trust, and information overload that arise with the shift from physical to digital images. By drawing on theories from Walter Benjamin, I provide a historical context for these contemporary anxieties.
I highlight printmaking as a vehicle to counteract digital anxiety by emphasizing the materiality and permanence of physical prints. This traditional practice offers a deeper engagement with images, contrasting the transient nature of digital media. My personal print archive project provides further insights into individual and collective experiences with digital anxiety.
My methodology involves analyzing how images are communicated, exploring the crisis of authenticity, and assessing the effects of information overload. Through reflective writing and case studies, I aim to address the challenges posed by digital environments. My research demonstrates how printmaking can offer stability and authenticity in a digital age, enhancing our understanding of the interaction between traditional art forms and modern visual culture.
Used photopolymer plates, whose physical characteristics faithfully reproduce the details of the image.
This print documents the bus stop outside the Glasgow Botanic Gardens in January 2024.
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