Manipulations of photographic paper
Marco Breuer
USA 1990s–present
Image above: Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1228), 2012, chromogenic paper, burned, 39-3/16 x 28-15/16 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
“Eschewing digital technologies as well as conventional photographic genres, Marco Breuer manipulates near-obsolete chemical developing and printing processes to create striking abstract compositions. […] Initially, Breuer exposes light-sensitive paper to a partial or full spectrum of color—the latter turning the sheet entirely black—and then begins stripping down the individual layers of cyan, magenta and yellow emulsion, sometimes to a bare state. He scrapes, slices, perforates, shaves and burns with a variety of tools, including sandpaper, embossing machines, Brillo pads, matches, torches, shotguns, razor blades and even his own teeth. The resulting compositions frequently allude to Color Field or Abstract Expressionist painting, either in their spare geometric configurations or gestural qualities.” (Sarah S. King)
Marco Breuer, born 1966 in Landshut, Germany, lives and works in New York.
More images
1. Marco Breuer, Untitled (Fuse), 1995, silver gelatin paper, burned, 18 x 14 inches, unique, made in New York City (USA)
2. Marco Breuer, Untitled (Fuse/Day), 1996, silver gelatin paper, burned/exposed, 18 x 14 inches, unique, made in New York City (USA)
3. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-367), 2003, chromogenic paper, scratched, 13-11/16 x 10-9/16 inches, unique, made in Hudson, New York (USA)
4. Marco Breuer, Spin (C-856), 2008, chromogenic paper, embossed/scratched, 14-1/8 x 10-1/2 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
5. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1210), 2012, chromogenic paper, scratched/burned, 19-3/4 x 15-7/8 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
6. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1370), 2013, chromogenic paper, burned/scraped, 22-5/8 x 18-1/16 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
7. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1379), 2013, chromogenic paper, burned/scraped, 20 x 16 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
8. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1623), 2014, chromogenic paper, exposed/folded/burned, 21-15/16 x 18-1/16 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
9. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1776), 2016, chromogenic paper, embossed/scraped, 21-1/16 x 17 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
10. Marco Breuer, Untitled (C-1778), 2016, chromogenic paper, embossed/scraped, 23-3/8 x 19-9/16 inches, unique, made in Oxford, New York (USA)
References
Rachel Churner, “Marco Breuer,” Artforum (November 2007), p. 370.
Marc Alice Durant, Interview with Marco Breuer, https://saint-lucy.com/conversations/marco-breuer-2/.
Sarah S. King, “Marco Breuer,” Art in America (December 2014), http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/reviews/marco-breuer/.
Carol Squiers, “What is a Photograph?,” in What is a Photograph?, ed. Carol Squiers (New York: International Center of Photography and DelMonico Books, 2014), pp. 9–45.