"Blue Plate Special" (BPS) – a photographic series that is printed on handcrafted ceramic plates, using Cyanotype technique and accented with silver-coated rims.
by Youvalle Levy
September 2024
Secret Riso Club Gallery
The plates are produced in a limited edition of 6+ap, with each plate being unique due to the long process of making them. The process begins with taking the photographs, mainly on 35mm film, which are then transformed into 1:1 negatives. These images are delicately printed onto the Bisque ware plates using cyanotype method. This process ensures that each plate becomes unique for a distinct interplay of variables, ranging from the subtle idiosyncrasies of the ceramic surface to nuanced factors like exposure duration and chemical mix.
In 2021 Levy started taking photographs of food; Her subjects ranged from dishes found in restaurants, home-cooked meals, fresh produce from local markets, pastries, and even the bounties of her own garden. Infused with personal narratives, each photograph resonates with memories of gatherings with loved ones or just simple breakfast. By immortalising these snapshots on ceramic plates, Levy elevates the significance of these instances, creating souvenirs-like items from day-to-day events.
The distinct Prussian Blue hues, of the cyanotype printing on ceramics, corresponds with traditional Chinese porcelain ware or “fine china”, which are common collectable items that usually depicts beautiful nature scenes. A nuance surfaces as Levy's photographes of pizza slices or English breakfasts against this backdrop of refined blue ceramics, creating an interplay of contrasts that adds a bit of humour to the photographic series.
The name Blue Plate Special draws from the Diners in North America where the term 'Blue Plate Special' means Today's Special or Dish of the Day.
The BPS installation is a site-specific exhibition featuring six plates arranged on a dining table with a white tablecloth and silverware. Additionally, three plates are displayed on the wall, and one plate is positioned on a plinth. Each of the ten has a unique print.
The name Blue Plate Special draws from the Diners in North America where the term 'Blue Plate Special' means Today's Special or Dish of the Day.
The BPS installation is a site-specific exhibition featuring six plates arranged on a dining table with a white tablecloth and silverware. Additionally, three plates are displayed on the wall, and one plate is positioned on a plinth. Each of the ten has a unique print.
Born in 1991, Youvalle Levy is an artist, photographer, and the co-founder of Replika Publishing.
After studying photography at BTK Berlin and architecture at Universität der Künste, Youvalle developed an interest in urbanism, exploring the beauty found in the abandoned and ignored aspects of everyday life. Her diverse body of work spans photobooks, installations, printmaking, video, and ceramics. Each piece invites viewers to reconsider their surroundings and appreciate the often-overlooked elements of urban environments.
After studying photography at BTK Berlin and architecture at Universität der Künste, Youvalle developed an interest in urbanism, exploring the beauty found in the abandoned and ignored aspects of everyday life. Her diverse body of work spans photobooks, installations, printmaking, video, and ceramics. Each piece invites viewers to reconsider their surroundings and appreciate the often-overlooked elements of urban environments.