Tania Kaaz | Snapped Featured Artist

Snapped Featured Artist

Opening March 4th At Spectra Art Space

Showcasing Series:

Realism/Abstraction

“Exploring the extremes of photography, from the hyper realistic images that we see with our eye to the imaginary worlds created with abstract photography. ”

Can you give us an artist statement for the series you will be showcasing in March for Snapped at Spectra Art Space?

“Photography is as varied an artistic medium as any other and I have recently been exploring two extremes of the art form, those being realism and abstraction. My early work was focused on technique and showing the object as the eye sees it.

As my work progressed, I started to experiment with surrealism by soaking my film in substances, which created whorls of rainbow colors over the image. I continued to push the limits of what film could take by boiling it for longer and longer periods until the emulsion was peeling off and also dipping the film in sulphuric acid, utterly destroying the negative. I started to experiment with camera-less techniques, boiling unexposed film in different substances and then scanning it, the results always being a surprise. At this point my work was completely abstract, consisting of images that were streaks of color and folds of torn emulsion. I was intrigued with this work and thought it hauntingly beautiful, but I found myself wanting to do something different.

During quarantine, I was stuck at home and bored so I took my digital camera, a studio light, an orchid and black and white backdrops and did some experimenting with shadows and light. This was a completely different process from the abstract work I had been doing recently. I wasn’t playing mad chemist, toiling over boiling film and developing chemicals. I was now focused on composition. I had to think about angles. Where to draw focus to the subject became a consideration. It was a refreshing change.

This series reflects the two extremes of the work I create. One is messy, organic, unexpected and abstract. The other is clean, digital, studied and realistic. The commonality between the two is pure love of the medium.”

Tell us about the process for the series? 

“My abstract work was created using a few different techniques. One of them was boiling film for 15 minutes until the emulsion started to peel away. I then developed the film at home. The skull image was soaked in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes, developed and then dipped in sulphuric acid. The orchid images were shot on a digital camera and perfected using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.”

Tania Kaaz The Artist:

Tania Kaaz (She/Her) is a fine art photographer based in Denver. She started shooting film in high school and continued through college. After a 20 year hiatus, she picked up her Pentax K1000 and a roll of film 4 years ago and started shooting again. She shoots black and white and color film, both of which she develops herself at home. She often experiments with alternative photography techniques such as film soups. She runs a photography magazine called Alter/Analog that focuses on photographers who also practice alternative processes. Her favorite thing to do is to go on photo outings with her son.

Follow her art journey on Instagram or her website.