‘Snapshot: Foto de Familia’ is a mixed-media art piece by Ernesto Cabral de Luna that explores the delicate interplay between memory, material degradation, and artistic resurrection. This large-scale installation of a family photograph transferred onto corroded copper showcases the visual distortion of memories through the physical wear of materiality. The work invites viewers to reflect on the fragility of personal history, degradation of the image, the beauty of material transformation, and how time alters both physical and emotional landscapes.
The central element is an archival family photograph of the artist’s mom, aunt and grandparents that was taken in Mexico in the 1970s. The image undergoes multiple displacements: first, transferred onto a corroded copper plate, then digitized, and finally enlarged in a large-scale photographic print. This process reflects the human impulse to preserve memories—whether through physical objects or digital means—while acknowledging the fact that all will eventually deteriorate. Themes of decay, preservation, and temporal erosion are highlighted through the textural distortions, from the rich patina of the copper to the frayed edges of the canvas. The wear and tear of the materials evoke reflections on the impact of time on personal histories.
Participants
Ernesto Cabral de LunaAcknowledgements
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