ANY WAR ANY ENEMY / PORTFOLIO OF MEZZOTINTS
Any War Any Enemy (2022-2024) visually portrays the possible end of the world caused by a catastrophic nuclear war. A rallying cry for the suffering that every conflict inevitably provokes, the portfolio is a heart breaking – if poetic – reflection on war and all conflicts past, present, and those to come. The subjects of the mezzotints, the artist’s friends and neighbors, theatrically staged in a series of mise-en-scènes, are the result of a meticulous photogrammetric operation. These images formed the database from which the artist and her team created three-dimensional digital sculptures using 3D modelling techniques. Lastly, some of the most striking images were captured with a virtual reality program, then hand-transposed onto copper plates, and printed by hand. The transfer of digital images onto paper is a fascinating example of craftsmanship made possible by Herzog’s collaboration with the Venice-based Bottega del Tintoretto.
The portfolio consists of 10 images and is an edition of 50
MEDIUM: Mezzotints (or Manera Nera) engravings printed from copperplates, images created via photogrammetry and manual stylization.
Copper plates were engraved using traditional mezzotint engraving tools:a rocker, a scraper and a burnisher. Each plate measures 155 x 270 x 1 mm. The plates were printed on a Bendini press. The plates were inked with black Charbonnel Encre Taille Douce and printed on 290 x 385 mm white Velin d’Arches paper. All editioned prints are embossed with the blind stamp and signed by the artist.
Video on the Process and Media: from VR to Mezzotints