Mondrian colour replication
Yellow, 5600 kelvin, F-16, ISO 100, 1 sec shutter, black&white, 16mm fuji prime 1.4 lens, 2021.
Examples of photographic experimentations with replicating the colours yellow, red, blue, grey, and black then photographing them in black and white systematically at varying colour temperatures, f-stops, shutter speeds, and iso’s. At this early stage, I am using a digital black and white colour profile on a fuji xt3 with a 16mm lens before migrating the process to large format black and white 4x5 film photography. The aim of this process is to achieve an accurate replication of the colour of Mondrian’s paintings and the interior of his Paris studio, referencing the archival black and white photographs by Paul Delbo and André Kertész taken in the 1920’s and 30’s of the interior of Mondrian’s Paris studio (1921-1936) which feature Mondrian’s works during this most culturally significant period of time in his Paris studio, originally located at 26 Rue du Départ, Montparnasse.
The colour data collated from these experiments and work in progress will be applied to colour grading the moving-image production Reconstructing Mondrian (2013-2020) - see more on this work in Studio Experiences. As this production was shot on the Arri Alexa in a raw state, this gives the post-production colourist the space and ability to colour grade and replicate exacting colour accuracy. It remains to be seen if this will be a desired look for the moving-image production. However, when this work is migrated and produced using 4x5 large format film, there is the potential that these photographs could be stand alone works in themselves. The question which was the catalyst for delving deeper into this process was: How has Mondrian’s Paris studio and works from this time been reproduced and replicated in colour, since documentation of his studio are black and white photographs? In the reconstructions made by architects, cultural institutions, and artists of Mondrian's Paris studio, how have they replicated the colour? When taking on the process of replicating and representing Mondrian’s work with colour, especially from this period of time, it would be critically important to replicate with accuracy. Currently, this work is an aesthetic, technical, and conceptual area of interest and intrigue.