BEHIND THE PROCESS
Polaroid 665 - Treatment of positive
The Polaroid 665 is a discontinued instant black-and-white film that produced, one or two minutes after exposure, both a positive photograph (8.5x11 cm) and an exceptionally fine negative. The positive had to be coated with lacquer immediately after processing to stabilize the print and prevent oxidation. Uncoated prints would otherwise oxidize, losing tone in the highlights and bronzing in the shadows.
Back in 2001, Gil decided to apply the coating only on some parts of the image. He laid the fixative stick in a hand movement that allowed him to carefully select the surface he wanted to preserve. He then stored the images in light-sealed boxes and let them sit in darkness. Over time, the unprotected areas started disappearing gradually, creating an interplay of traces and dissipating shapes.
As of 2023, this oxidation process has been ongoing for over 20 years. The positives are in a constant state of transformation and will continue to fade away for the next 30 years or so before completely disappearing. Gil takes the originals out of their boxes every two years and digitizes them to document their evolution.
These images, unique and ephemeral by nature, challenge the everyday discourse that we resort to photography to freeze moments in time.
Notice how this autoportrait differs from the one presented in the triptych.
