Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) anthotype by Dalene Marais

“Hope from Africa with love” by Dalene Marais
Country: South Africa
Parts used: Powder
Application: Brushing
Exposure time: 8 hours in SA sun (UV 6 out of 10)
Month, season and year: August, Winter, 2022
Substrate: Rough watercolour paper 300 g
Contrast of final print: * (Low)

Amount: 2 tablespoons + 100ml of surgically spitit
Extracted using: Mortar,  centrifuge, soaking, cooking
Thinner: Surgical spirits
Layers: 2
Used to create image: Picked fresh plant parts from the garden and arranged on wet paper with the coloured turmeric extract. Used fern and stems. small flowers of dandelion. the feathery leaves of the asparagus climber and thorny stems.

Challenges or observations:
The wet watercolour paper with the plant parts had been covered with transparent cellophane and weighed down, overnight with heavy books. The next day, weights were removed, cellophane  removed, placed in a clipboard with a backing and glass cover, and exposed to sunlight for 8 hours

• Plants from my garden and from my walks in the country, like the area of Chartwell north, where I live,inspire inner peace and tranquillity.
• Plants are living organisms with life cycles and connect with the human life cycle.
• Their beauty and simplicity and connectivity to human  lives become a symbol of HOPE