Perceptual Thresholds

Technological prostheses mediate how we relate to our environment, bodies, and each other. Monolith is a photographic print depicting a 3D sculpture of a microscopic cross-section of my skin.

The invention of the microscope in the 15th century unveiled the invisible microscopic realm, evoking a sense of teleological horror—an unsettling awareness of infinite space. This project draws inspiration from the history of optics-based entertainment media, which developed alongside its scientific applications, serving as precursors to today’s digital technologies.

Fig 1 . “Monolith” Digital photograph of a 3D printed sculpture, PLA. Digital mapping of a microscopic cross section of my skin.

Fig 2 and 3. Monolith, Screenprint Exhibition view, June 2022, Brighton.

Fig 4. Process Installation. Microscopic image of the skin was extruded digitally and 3D printed, Jan 2023, Leith School of Art.

Fig 5. Initial microscopic image before extrusion.

Fig 6. Concept sketch, with the Vitruvian figure looking at themselves through the microscope.

Fig 7. Apparatus (Microscope) Cyanotype Blueprint, layered transparencies.