IN ADVANCE (2008 - my death)


Statement / Will:

As part of my will and testament I would like to establish the artwork – in advance – as a present and future dying wish. I am thinking of this work as a collaborative piece, to be carried out post-mortem.

There is a photograph inside the film box. It is conceptually and literally my last photograph. This final image was shot on a sheet of 4x5 positive slide film and will remain latent until I die. This artwork stands as an absolute collaboration between willing proxies and myself.

Encased in this vitrine are objects that visually present the order needed to complete the development of my closing image. Upon my death, the E-6 chemistry is to be mixed and the latent image developed according to standard photo-processing procedure. Once my final image is processed and dry, the image will be displayed on the lightbox.

As a way to convey the journey of the piece, after the work is fully carried out, the empty 4x5 film box is to be displayed with the lid open. In addition, the used containers of the E-6 chemistry kit should be displayed in the same formation and groupings as before, alongside the illuminating image.

Should the lightbox bulb burn out, a replacement can be found accompanying the work. This will ensure that the image will radiate until the film fades as I have faded.