Page 20 - The Enso circle continuing Residents' Exhibition Catalog, Term Five, December 2022

About

the WALDINEI (WALLY) LAFAIETE

Artist &

the This residency experience found me intrigued by the process of

Work creating encaustic art - the use of molten beeswax as an art medi-

um. Many of my colleagues in the Enso group have created inspiring
encaustic paintings with which led me to explore the process as my
own during our 12 weeks together. It was only natural that I begin my
encaustic journey with its application to photographs as I have been
a professional photographer for many years.

I recalled that I had a solo photography exhibition on Ancient Egypt
in 2019. Some of the images I captured then resembled the Egyptian
Fayum portraits created with encaustics almost 2000 years ago. I
began to combine the very look and effects of those works with the
enhancement of the encaustic process to see what might be trans-
formed in my work and in myself through this new learning path.
The encaustic medium is a very forgiving one and it is fascinating to
see what each layer produces like the subtle textures you can see
in these pieces. I feel like the melting layers of beeswax guide me
through the process until I reach the point that I consider the artwork
complete.

You are viewing the results in four photos that I selected to be my
foundational encaustic medium experience. The layering of beeswax
did indeed guide me and produced soft imagery with a luminous glow
which gives a dreamy look not matched by any other art medium. To
see this work in person finds the viewer feeling as if they are experi-
encing the reflection of a person looking in a mirror. It is a personal
and powerful transformation that I have enjoyed embracing in my
current work.

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