Last trip to Chichén Itzá and Uxmal I, 2011
Glass picture
62 x 101cm

Last trip to Chichén Itzá and Uxmal II, 2011
Glass picture
62 x 101cm

Last trip to Chichén Itzá and Uxmal III, 2011
Glass picture
62 x 101cm

Albers Uxmal
2011
Glass pictures, American walnut
139 x 26 x 23 cm

Samson ’s series of glass pictures entitled For a future observation of the dark matter stems from her discovery of the graphic simulations generated by a spectroscope during her time at the laboratory of astronomy in Marseille. This machine, which is still in production, may one day detect the existence of dark matter - a non luminous and invisible matter which is hypothetically present in large quantities in the Universe. Recalling universal grid systems, these stratified glass pictures, formed through a firing process, invite us to decipher an enigmatic vocabulary leading us to consecutively explore languages from optical astronomy to geometric abstraction. Inspired by Joseph Albers’ glass pictures made in the 1920’s at the Bauhaus, Samson pays tribute to this artist in Last trip to Chichén Itzá and Uxmal and Albers Uxmal. After his move to the American continent in 1933, Albers introduced references to Mexican architecture in his photographic practice and notably to the geometric bas-reliefs of the Mayan temples which Samson refers to in these archaeological style tablets. The nine aligned glass pictures from Albers Uxmal - essentially inspired by the architectural grid system – are presented on a wooden shelf made from American black walnut, another nod to Albers' country of adoption.

 

 

 

 

© NETTIE HORN