ANNE METTE KELTER

Artist’s Statement

When I first started to dive into the wonderful medium of Polaroid photography, I bought the "BIBLE" within Polaroid photography called “The Missing Manual” by Rhiannon Adam It was a book explaining about Polaroid, the various camera, films, and the many creative techniques that can be used for this amazing medium.
I especially found the chapter about Polaroid decay interesting. The technique showed so much potential and had an outcome that speaks very well to the way I wish to work. I am a very patient person and this process requires more than alot of patience since it can take up to 6 months from start to finish to create a piece ready for framing.
I was stunned about the fact that leaving the polaroid in just a little water in a lunchbox with a lit on to soak for a couple of months would make the chemistry dissolve and mix with the water giving the polaroid a whole new and completely unique look that could never be recreated. The original decays are really to be considered alongside paintings since it is an analogue process with a unique and individual outcome.
Some time ago, I was struggling to precisely describe what my decay work represented. I talked to a friend about it, and she described it as "Somewhere between dream and reality". And that is actually a very precise description. Spot on, really!
I hope for my work to be like a dream for me and for my audience. I may see something in a decay that no one else can see and vice versa - and that is the whole idea about my decaying process. That the viewer will be taken on a personal journey where they will discover elements in the polaroids that speak to them on a personal plan. I aim for my work to be like going on a private journey into a land of dreams and fantasy when looking at my pieces.