chinoiserie

Sounds of Another Time (Rising Dragon), 2021 /  by kelly heaton

I am pleased to reveal my latest commissioned piece, “Sounds of Another Time (Rising Dragon),” 2021. This sound-generating work of art fuses several themes: new and old symbols, rising and falling cultures, electronic and traditional media, and feminist electrical engineering. The piece is made with functioning and non-functioning circuit boards, celebrating the expressive potential of electronic hardware as an artistic medium, and specifically highlighting the naturalistic, decorative form that electronics can take. The circuit boards are fiberglass with etched copper, some plated in solder or gold, to which I have selectively applied various chemical patinas in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Because fiberglass is translucent, I am able to backlight the central dragon and cast shadow on Venus reclining with her cherubic cohorts. The silver-colored circuits on either side of the dragon (copied from an illustrated winged griffin by Alexis Peyrotte, 18th century) are abstract electronic Foo dogs that have been overprinted with floral vines in the style of Zuber. East rises above the West. Blinking LEDs on the Foo dogs evoke fireflies and are, in fact, powered by the (hidden) analog electronics that generate this cricket soundscape. There are two knobs, one of which controls the dragon’s growling voice and a second changes the chirp rate of a single cricket (to show the dynamic nature of the analog electronics). I plan to wire one piece from this series with additional knobs that control the entire soundscape in greater detail. The art can be enjoyed with or without electricity (and has the option to turn on backlighting only, without sound).

Soon, I will post images of other available works from this series (message me with inquiries) which have subtle variance in color due to different patinas on the metal. This specific piece is destined for a private collector in Washington, DC. Thank you to Felix Etienne-Edouard Pfeifle for orchestrating this amazing commission!

”Sounds of Another Time (Rising Dragon)",” 2021. Analog electronics, printed circuit boards, and silkscreen on fabric-covered panel. Unique series of 6 mixed media electronic artworks with one AP. 23.5” x 37.5 x 2"

Chinoiserie Bird Study /  by kelly heaton

“Chinoiserie Bird Study,” 2020. A series of three artist-made screen prints on canvas with acrylic, foil, and fretwork. 38” H x 23” wide (unframed - works will be custom framed by the artist).

I have been steadily developing my printmaking technique and chinoiserie aesthetic in preparation for a new series of botanical circuit boards. In these studies, I explored screen printing on canvas combined with a thick acrylic stencil application, metal foiling, and wooden fretwork.

fretwork /  by kelly heaton

Fretwork for the frame, mirrored in a fretwork rendering of the PCB traces. Study of a Chinoiserie circuit bird, July - August 2020

Chinoiserie Bird in progress /  by kelly heaton

Traditional printmaking combined with electronic nature. The wallpaper is screen printed on canvas using a many layers of CMYK color separation, block printing, and hand-painted transparencies. The circuit board is vinyl on acrylic and will be laser cut to shape in a next step.