Intaglio Print: 4x6 inch copper plate on 8x10 inch paper
For this intaglio print, I reinterpreted abduction on a unicorn by albert dürer, part of the krannert art museum print exhibit, through a contemporary lens. The assignment challenged us to select a historic print and transform it to reflect modern themes and concerns.
In my version, I removed the figure of pluto and focused on the woman’s desperate hold on the unicorn, while she extends her phone, livestreaming the moment. Around her, the world is in disarray: A massive smoke cloud looms, an empty bottle and cigarette litter the ground—symbols of societal neglect and chaos. The emojis emerging from her phone screen represent the commodification and superficial consumption of despair in today’s digital culture.
This 4x6 inch copper plate print, printed on 8x10 inch paper, aims to critique how society packages and broadcasts moments of crisis as entertainment or content, highlighting the disconnect between real suffering and the curated digital experience. Through this piece, I explore the tension between myth and modernity, presence and performance, and hope and hopelessness.