Overlooked during my previous visit, I decided to take a second look at the cyanotypes by Pai Dekkers, displayed in the “Awakening in Blue” exhibition. Cyanotype is a simple, camera-free photographic process invented in England in 1842 by John Herschel and later popularised by Anna Atkins. First used for scientific documentation, it is now appreciated for its artistic possibilities, simplicity, and relatively low environmental impact. By collecting Dutch algae and placing them on light-sensitive paper, Pai Dekkers follows in the footsteps of Anna Atkins. The result is a stunning series of delicate forms on deep blue paper, revealing the fragile and translucent structure of the algae. The question of whether this is truly photography can be answered by noting that the technique closely resembles a contact sheet: light directly records what is placed on the photosensitive surface. In this case, the material itself lies directly on the paper, allowing its form to be captured without the use of a camera.
