Cyanotype Offers Fresh Perspective On Nature-human Connection

By Siti Nur Athirah Abdullah

BUTTERWORTH, June 21 (Bernama) -- Sunlight may be an everyday presence for most people, but for cyanotype artist Puteri Mas Aishah Ramyusnali, it is a creative force.

From clear skies to overcast conditions, each variation in weather and ultraviolet (UV) exposure leaves its mark on the artworks she produces.

For the 24-year-old Penang-born artist, cyanotype has been more than just an artistic pursuit. Since venturing into the sunlight-driven printing process some three years ago, she said it has reshaped her understanding of the bond between humanity and the environment.

“Nature plays an integral role in the cyanotype-making process. Once leaves, flowers, or other objects are arranged on paper coated with a photosensitive substance, the paper is exposed to sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes.

“After removing the flowers, leaves or other objects, the paper is washed in acidic and alkaline water. It is during this stage that the distinctive blue image slowly begins to develop,” she said in an interview with Bernama at a cyanotype workshop organised as part of the RIUH Pi HAWANA Carnival at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth parking area.

The artist, a Master of Fine Arts and Technology student at Universiti Teknologi MARA, said that working with cyanotype had highlighted the importance of factors many people rarely consider, such as weather, sunlight, and water supply, all of which can shape an artwork's outcome.

“As a cyanotype artist, keeping track of daily weather conditions and UV intensity is essential because they affect the quality of the print. Higher UV levels generally produce a more vivid and concentrated shade of blue,” she said.

Puteri Mas Aishah said she discovered her passion for cyanotype during industrial training, when she had the opportunity to introduce the art form to the public through hands-on workshops.

She admitted she was initially hesitant about working with members of the public without guidance from her lecturer or supervisor, but overcame her nerves and embraced the opportunity, which later marked the beginning of her deeper involvement in the discipline.

Since then, she has been running similar workshops and, at times, collaborating with various art studios and galleries in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Puteri Mas Aishah expressed hope that young people, in particular, will come to regard art as a medium for connecting with the environment rather than focusing solely on creating works.

“I hope this field will benefit society, as art is often seen as something trivial, when in reality it is very much part of our everyday existence,” she said.

-- BERNAMA