Inspiration-
This artwork was inspired by Polish-born physicist, chemist and a pioneer in the study of radiation, Marie Curie. She was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize and is the only person, male or female, to receive two Nobel Prizes in different scientific fields.

Through her legendary achievements in science and an obsessive dedication to her work, Curie set a shining example for future generations of researchers. This chemical heroine was indeed one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century.

Technique-
Metamorphosis Of Marie XL was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture, photograms made from antique slides of microscopic cells, and a Blue Morpho butterfly.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large-scale negative is contact printed onto the paper by exposure to daylight (UV rays). The print is then processed by thoroughly washing in water to remove any unexposed solution. It can then be hung to dry, developing to full density Prussian blue after 24 hours. Once dried, the butterfly pieces are cut out and mounted onto the base print to create a multi-layered, 3-dimensional collaged cyanotype.