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Lucas Samaras
Photo-Transformation
1973

Internal dye diffusion transfer print (Polaroid SX-70)

4.25 × 3.5 in (10.79 × 8.89 cm)

Lucas Samaras began working in photography in the late 1960s after establishing himself in the downtown New York 1960s scene as a painter, sculptor, and performance artist. The Photo-Transformations series, undertaken between 1973 and 1977, represent Samaras first post-processing experiments. Using a stylus, Samaras altered polaroid images by selectively developing and marking their surfaces.

Diane Arbus’ 1966 portrait of Lucas Samaras.

Diane Arbus’ 1966 portrait of Lucas Samaras.

The Photo-Transformations predict our post-photoshop world. Unsurprisingly, Samaras was an early adopter of digital technology, making his first work with a computer in 1996 and adopting a digital camera in 2002.

*Photofictions*, a book of Samaras’ early digital work.

Photofictions, a book of Samaras’ early digital work.

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