from February 6 to March 10, 2025
CONSERVAS EN SELENIO, an exhibition of analog photography by José Antonio Fernández and Lluís Ripoll.
Selenium is an essential agent in analog photography, used to preserve the positives and ensure longevity. In this exhibition, José Antonio Fernández and Lluís Ripoll have used this conservation process to guarantee not only the durability of their images, but also the preservation of a time and a look.
From Tinta Invisible, we wanted to extract these photographs from the pantry to share them with you. These selenium preserves, not only preserve themselves, but also keep fragments of landscapes and circus scenes that also have no expiration date.
José Antonio Fernández
“The images presented have been selected from among those that I have taken over the last few years to different places that are familiar to me.
The camera used to portray the landscapes is a plate camera with film of different formats: 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 inches.
The whole process, from the click of the shutter, the development of the negative and the printing of the copy, goes through my hands. The prints are selenium-tinted to increase preservation.
Working analogically, controlling the whole process, continues to be a basic premise in my commitment to photography.”
Lluís Ripoll
“Un Circo otros tiempos captures the life of the circus people and a vision of the circuses of the past, both with the life of the families who worked there and the types of shows, mostly headed by the Rossi family (the businessmen).
It was a documentary and humanistic work that I did during 5 summers, from 1991 to 1995 in Sitges, where this circus stopped every summer. This continuity allowed me to be friends with the members and to have the doors open in every way. I took almost 200 photos of which I show here a small compilation.
All the copies are author's, in silver gelatin and conservation selenium bath. Referenced, signed and numbered on the back, and measures 30x40, 24x30 and 18x24 cm.”
