Laser cut cyanotypes on fabric
24 x 20 x 72 inches
2014
With the piece Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, I am addressing my own experience with cancer by revisiting the original CT Scan of my tumor. This scan was taken prior to my diagnosis and shows the tumor at its largest. Through the appropriation of this scan, I am taking control of my cancer and recontextualizing the experience of the tumor removal. In the piece, I utilize laser cutting in order to remove the tumor from my pelvis. The laser cutter has the ability to remove the mass with more precision than the human hand and can also replicate the same cut over and over again. Because of the way the growth had wrapped itself around major arteries, the surgeons had to be delicate and precise when removing the mass. The laser also cauterizes the edges of the fabric, preventing the area where the tumor outline used to be from fraying. This effect helps the fabric maintain the original form of the tumor.
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma is comprised of twenty hand-coated cyanotypes on sheer fabric that hang from an aluminum frame. Each of the twenty cyanotypes is made from the original CT scan images that documented the tumor.