Roan Hesse

This project examines the Chicago DIY punk scene through the lens of analog photography and alternative process. By transferring documentary images onto hand-dyed canvas with cyanotype, I position the work between archival practice and material experimentation. The subject matter—drug consumption and its psychological, social, and bodily effects—emerges not as detached reportage but as lived experience within a cultural network I inhabit. Printing on scales ranging from 2″ x 3″ to 36” x 48” at the largest, this technique transforms ephemeral moments of music, intoxication, and vulnerability into tactile, enduring objects. The tapestries serve as a symbol of community & spiritualism, transforming basements and backyards into ashrams and monasteries.

The cyanotype process, with its history rooted in the 19th century, provides both a visual and conceptual framework: an indexical trace of light and chemistry that echoes the fragility of the bodies and communities it depicts. By situating these works in dialogue with traditions of social documentary and experimental printmaking, I aim to both record and destabilize the narratives around youth subculture, addiction, and belonging.

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

COMING SOON