ABOUT THE WORK

Though he wouldn’t have regarded himself as a lensman, the relatively novel art of photography was pivotal to Lee Aguinaldo’s groundbreaking mixed media works. Lee’s foray into image-based art was partly inspired by the 1970s’ interest in frottage and image transfers given the advancements in darkroom technology. Though Aguinaldo’s mixed media pieces required less stability in terms of brushstrokes, they demanded more pressure and quicker strokes given the nature of both the medium and the chemicals involved in the process. Though these pieces were relatively smaller, they undoubtedly required pinpoint precision and technical prowess. These works featured a variety of photographic media, from magazine cutouts to raw negatives and even archival reproductions. Aguinaldo would then mold and shape the base piece in order to achieve his desired effect. This particular piece titled The Room #1 (Hotel Frederic’s Manila, PI) showcases Aguinaldo’s emphasis on certain effects and moods that are only possible through photographic manipulation. His black and white works exemplified the unique perspective that only monochromatic celluloid can provide. In this particular work, Aguinaldo’s unique process heightens and exaggerates both the highlights and the shadows of his chosen photographic subject, giving the work an other-worldly glow, imparting upon the viewer a mysterious and almost prophetic effect. This certain look would not have been possible with colored film given that black and white images do not only have a certain look that is unique to them, but they also carry with them a certain context; one that Aguinaldo himself is undoubtedly familiar with.