Hubris

Emulsion & More Metaphysical Transference

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“My story starts on a small island in Greece, my ‘patrida’ (homeland) and, if truth be told, the fact that I have now lived in the US almost as long as I lived in Greece is something I have trouble reckoning with. Why? Because every cell of my being is still there, in Greece, and this will never change. On some deep level and at all times, as well, I feel I am somehow betraying my heritage by being, living . . . elsewhere.Chiara-Sophia Coyle

Clicks & Relativity

By Chiara-Sophia Coyle

Chiara-Sophia Coyle-barley field
“Barley Field.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)

Sophia Coyle, Weekly Hubris

SONOMA California—(Hubris)—January 2024—If you have followed me on Hubris, you probably know that I am persistently attracted to abstract photography and drawn towards the abstract in rust, “my” Greek blue, reflections, and sometimes floral subjects. Abstraction, and bold colors. The light. Why, you may wonder?  What does all this mean to me? I feel a vulnerable share may be coming up here . . .

My story starts on a small island in Greece, my “patrida” (homeland) and, if truth be told, the fact that I have now lived in the US almost as long as I lived in Greece is something I have trouble reckoning with. Why? Because every cell of my being is still there, in Greece, and this will never change. On some deep level and at all times, as well, I feel I am somehow betraying my heritage by being, living . . . elsewhere.

When I moved to the US, a photographic process known as “emulsion transfers” enabled me to work in my kitchen with Kodak slides taken in Greece, transferring my images onto various porous surfaces, and thus keeping close the relationship, the memories, the heartbeat of home. My focus shifted to chasing reflections on water, just another way to keep it all breathing, alive; exploring a dream of light and that familiar hue of blue, endlessly. Growing up, I also saw rust, in all its visual diversity, on a daily basis, accompanied by regular tetanus shots. (If you’re running around, a barefoot child on a Greek island, rust permeates your environment and it’s a given that you’ll end up with all kinds of unwelcome rusty encounters.)

Eventually, my journey led me to focus on themes of water, reflections, and rust even in my new environment, in America.

An image of a reflection on a body of water anywhere unquestionably takes me back to what fed my soul as a child, and still does. Light, dreams, hope and, at the end of the day, a perfect juxtaposition.

An abstract image of a rusty detail on a truck takes on a life of its own and, all of a sudden, summons up a field of barley, reminding me of my mother and the relationship she had with the land. She is with me still, and I find ways, in whatever landscape, to honor her and all she taught me.

In my images, I share my very own and personal interpretation of what I see.

If you are curious about my body of work, I invite you to visit my online gallery, the site finally launched earlier this winter. It has taken me a very, very long time “to put my art out there,” as they say, but I’m so glad finally to have taken this step. Please let me know if you are interested in any of my prints: there is a Hubris discount. Above all, I just want to invite you to view my images through your own eyes, to see how this work might speak to you, wherever you find yourself.

Chiara-Sophia Coyle-blurry vision
“Blurry Vision.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-embracing light
“Embracing Light.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-liquid pearls
“Liquid Pearls.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-roses and rain
“Roses & Rain.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-rust on the knob.
“Rust on the Knob.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-snow white petals
“Snowy White Petals.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-spirited
“Spirited.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-sunset.
“Sunset.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-the knots in life.
“The Knots in Life.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)
Chiara-Sophia Coyle-to be or knot to be.
“To Be, or Knot.” (Photo: Chiara-Sophia Coyle.)

 

Born in the United States in the 1960s (then, transplanted to a very small, remote Greek island at the age of three months); brought up in a bilingual and frequently culturally conflicted environment; repatriated to Homeland No. 1 some 25 years ago; descended from four generations of photographers, Chiara-Sophia Coyle was acquainted with photography from an early age; always pursued by her mother, Rolleiflex at the ready, recording and sharing scenes of family life with absent grandparents and her children's working-at-sea father. Photography became Coyle's own escape as a young teenager. Kodak Instamatic in hand, the sound of the twist and the advancement of the film music to her ears, she began exploring all the elements of the Aegean: water, light, white, blue. While never an income generator, photography is what kept the artist sane as she navigated the challenges of single parenting, and endured the endless longing and aching for Homeland No. 2. Experimenting, early, with Emulsion Transfers, Coyle moved on to printing in her own dark room; then, to digital and iPhotography, constantly experimenting and exploring the new. Based in Sonoma, California, Coyle is an Expat Life Coach and Retreat Leader and continues to travel, photograph, and work with what feeds her soul, wherever she may be: the people, the water, the reflections, the abstract. Her current art may be found on Instagram (@chiarasophia1); contact her at [email protected]. (Author Head Shot Augment: René Laanen.)