Silver Aluminum Print,
20″ x 30″,
2019.
From the Constellatio Series, Auriga is a constellation on the celestial equator, one of the 88 modern constellations and was among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. Its name is Latin for “(the) charioteer”, associating it with various mythological beings. The choice to infuse the original drawing onto aluminum to make the final print reflects not only the metal’s historical significance to aerospace engineering but also the fact that aluminum, so often associated with technological advancement and heavy industry, is a naturally occurring element across the universe. Incorporating astronomical-specific mathematical information such as azimuth, right ascension, declination, apparent magnitude, radial velocity, distance from earth in light-years, eccentricity, and synodic period creates a deceptive simplicity to the elegance of the work.