In this work, Ärlund utilizes the gum bichromate method to move beyond traditional documentation, allowing the image to emerge through a series of handmade, unpredictable layers. The resulting texture strips away clarity in favor of an atmospheric depth, where the figure’s feet seem to merge with the water and pigment. By embracing the inherent imperfections of this historical technique, the artist highlights a sense of fragility that is both visual and conceptual, turning a simple physical act into a meditation on memory.

Choosing the feet as a central motif, Ärlund explores the duality of vulnerability and resilience. The bare skin, exposed to the elements and grounded in the fluid environment, serves as a symbol for the body’s enduring nature despite its lack of protection. Each print remains a unique artifact of this encounter, a physical record of the artist’s hand interacting with the chemistry of the medium to capture a moment that feels both intimate and abstract.