Artist Statement

My artistic practice is rooted in experimental techniques, including printmaking and, since 2019, botanical monoprints.  The versatility and expressive nature of this process move me to create unique works involving elements of chance.  In my studio, I produce plant-based inks using local plant materials, charcoal, and water-soluble graphite. I mix tint and tint pastes with various gums and glues and use these to transfer images to textiles and paper. I often layer textures and marks with translucent, found materials — from plastic to parchment paper — and finish works with thread, synthetic inks, and paint. While travelling, I turn to Monoprinting to interact with the elements of nature that catch my attention and to document my connection to them. The result is a body of two- and three-dimensional work that is temporal, unique and distinctive.

Biography

Barbara Bitondo was born in 1968 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and grew up in Kinshasa, Jakarta, Tunis, and Rome. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo, Barcelona and Washington, DC. Although photography was her primary medium in the early part of her career, she has for last decade focused on fiber and textiles — applying traditional techniques, cross-disciplinary practices, experimental processes, and material innovation. Bitondo creates work in three main categories: Tableaux, Tapestries, and Texts. Her creations using paper, fabric, or a combination, are sculptural in nature. They are typically multi-layered, double-sided, and three-dimensional. Her pieces often depict inner and outer landscapes that seem at once to capture the present, consider the past, and/or conjure the future. For her, the process of making art is an inquiry, and the product is a record of the exploration. Bitondo's work often incorporates elements related to travel, including horizon, flight, and boundary lines, as well as references to specific places and spaces. She integrates materials, poetry, songs, and prayers from around the world, reflecting her diverse upbringing and international experiences.

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