Leap
Leap
If you were 18 or 20 years-old and living in the mid eighties in New York and if you were in my skin and in my shoes and in my heart you were a club kid when clubs were kings and queens of New York and you were in one called The Fun House this one night and you were with your bud, Adolfo, same age, and each of you were sweat-dancing frenetically with a gal each from Ozone Park who each spoke to the two of you as if we were one by saying "youz guys" this and "youz guys" that and you all four sat in some stairs in the club and one of the gals with green blue eyes the size of stars slipped you a cigarette after she took a deep whiff from it which was unusual but who is you to question a gal in whose pants you want to get into that night and so you too took a big whiff of it yourself and it tasted sweet and it reminded you of cinnamon and half an hour later Adolfo and you were still sitting there on the same spot and the gals were gone and he is laughing out loud and telling you you just moved the foot of this big black guy with your hands and that the big dude was looking at you like you had two heads but got up and walked away and then next thing we know is we are walking really slow on 8th Avenue or no wait 10th Avenue and it is dawn and you plastered your back to a wall because you are seeing this gigantic hole at your feet all the way down to some center of the earth as if you were on the very edge of such precipice but for half a foot of ground at the wall and as soon as you relay what you are seeing sure enough your pal Adolfo starts seeing it too (or was it vice-versa?) and you have no idea how you both managed to peel yourselves off that wall when the sun was already hitting your faces with the hardness of late July in New York and you both jumped into a yellow cab and decided to spend the day at your place because your mom is traveling and all you two could do that day was to lie on the carpet in the living room and stare at the ceiling and somewhere in the afternoon you both start to come out of it somehow without food or any need for water all day and Adolfo turns half-laughing and tells you with a heavy Colombian accent, "Youz guys, that was was Angel's Dust." And you both laugh because that is what you do when you are that young.
And if you were still in my skin almost a year later to that date you opened your bedroom closet and this bolt of micro-second flashback explodes into your eyes like a flash of lighting and into your head so you once again felt that entire one-day-trip so highly compressed in the span of a microsecond in your head you almost fell but for both your hands clutching the doorknob as any man clings to driftwood out in the middle of the ocean.
And this photograph of this guy about to walk down a flight of stairs my camera did not register in this picture reminded you of my younger self that day and that rabbit hole to the almost center of the earth. You see it, right? And there is unlimited freedom to anything you feel in life when you are 18 or 20 years old and you are waiting for that girl in a corner in Queens one evening many days later.
Her name was Donna, the girl with the blue-green or green-blue eyes who hung that number on you and Adolfo, yes you, that night, only to float away into the ether with her friend.
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Please click on the LABYRINTHS tab below to view the artist statement for the series.
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PRINT INFO
Title: Leap
Series Title: Labyrinths
Year: 2019
Medium: Photography
Media: Archival Pigment Print
(Dye Sublimation Aluminum Print available for some sizes upon request)
SIZES AND EDITIONS
Each artwork in the Labyrinths series is offered in two sizes, with rare editions for each.
Size One - Print Only
Image Size: 16 x 20 in - 40.6 x 50.8 cm
Sheet Size: 17 x 22 in - 43.2 x 55.8 cm
Edition of 5
Size Two - Print Only
Image Size: 75 x 60 in - 190.5 x 152.4 cm
Sheet Size: 78 x 63 in -198.1 x 160 cm
Edition of 3 + 1 Artist's Proof
(Artist's Proof is not available for sale)
Explore the tabs under each artwork for details on FREE SHIPPING, EDITIONS, our RETURN POLICY, and precise FRAMING measurements.
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CONTACT
For inquiries about the Labyrinths series, you can reach me at:
Email: marco@ma9.co
Tel: +1 347-772-9370 (New York City)
LABYRINTHS
Chronotopical Archaeologies of the Individual In-Situ
Candid photography portraits of individuals walking across the great hall of Grand Central Station in New York City over a two-week period in 2019.
As a Latin-American living and working in New York since my early teens, my personal histories have been and continue to be wrought by access, and how access is denied or given to locations, to power, to social agency, to identity, to knowledge, to economic class, and even to North-American culture. By documenting individuals passing through Grand Central Station, I am creating a site-specific visual ethnography with which I seek to evaluate agency along the aforementioned terms for this specific location.
The series was inspired by the Kore and Kouros, the free-standing archaic Greek sculpture of female and male figures. As I began to photograph the series, the sculptures kept flashing in my memory, and particularly, the idea that an artist 2500 years ago was transposing a representation of the female and male body onto the stone, and here I was thinking that 2500 years later my photographs were documenting a real woman and a real man with individual names and personal histories. If you suspend belief for a moment, set aside the time in between, and let the Kore and Kourus stand side by side with these portraits, this is what a human being looks like 2500 years later.
Each work in this series is a photograph that has been aleatorily disassembled, re-layered with selections from the same image, and re-colored in post-production. Both camera and lens were calibrated to invoke [art] painting mechanical processes. These efforts were unconscious at first and it dawned on me that I was borrowing visual language from the art [painting] canon. However, the deconstruction and fragmentation of each image are meant to be obvious so as to involve the lay viewer in the conceit that these are constructions despite being primary-source photography documents.
Labyrinths is also guided by metaphysical elements extrapolated from Jorge Luis Borges’ fiction and by a personal interpretation of a motif found in the [gold-based] anthrozoomorphic ritual-art of The Muisca, a pre-Columbian, South-American culture. What I believe Borges' fiction proposes is that human knowledge has a misplaced sense of certainty that makes it paper-thin, thus I consciously sought to render these works with very little depth-of-field structured along a minimalist aesthetic preoccupied with projecting a visually-tactile bi-dimensional space.
EDITIONS
For those new to the world of art collecting, the term "editions" refers to the number of copies produced from a single original piece of artwork. Editions help ensure the exclusivity and value of each print. Understanding the difference between limited and rare editions is crucial for collectors.
In all of my fine art photography, I am committed to offering rare editions to ensure exclusivity and high value for collectors. Each artwork is produced in extremely limited quantities, with only 3 prints available for the larger size and 5 for the smaller size. Some series are even more exclusive, offered in only one size with an edition of 3
RARE EDITION
Definition: A rare edition is even more exclusive than a limited edition, implying extreme scarcity with very few prints available.
Typical Range: Rare editions typically include fewer than five prints and sometimes might even be a single print.
Value: Due to their extreme rarity, these prints are highly valuable and sought after by collectors.
Numbering: Similar to limited editions, rare editions are also numbered and usually signed by the artist.
LIMITED EDITION
Definition: A limited edition refers to a set number of prints produced from a single image. Once this number is reached, no more prints are made, ensuring scarcity.
Typical Range: The number can vary but is often between 5 to 50 prints. However, some editions can be larger.
Value: The value of a limited edition print is usually higher than that of an open edition (where prints are made continuously) because the supply is restricted.
Numbering: Each print in a limited edition is usually numbered (e.g., 1/25, 2/25) and sometimes signed by the artist.
EXCLUSIVITY
Each series is composed of a maximum of 18 to 27 artworks. No other artworks from this series will ever be offered for sale. Once an edition for an artwork is sold out, no more prints will ever be available. Once all editions for all artworks in my series are sold out, the entire series will be sold out. This ensures the exclusivity and enduring value of each piece and each series as a whole.
In summary, while both limited and rare editions indicate a finite number of prints, rare editions are more exclusive and scarce, generally making them more valuable. This distinction is important for collectors and galleries as it directly influences the market value and desirability of the prints.
Framing
Framing, as displayed under each artwork, includes wood with acid-free mat and archival materials, along with clear acrylic featuring superior UV protection. Your framed artwork ships with installation hardware, and it arrives ready to hang. Unframed prints will be shipped in a tube. Additional framing options are available at an extra cost - please email me at marco@ma9.co for more information.
Free Shipping
Enjoy free shipping on all orders placed within the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska.
International Shipping: International shipping is available at an additional cost. For more information, please email me at marco@ma9.co.
Processing & Shipping Time: All orders take approximately 10 to 15 business days to print, mount, frame, and prepare for shipping. Once shipped, delivery via UPS Ground typically takes an additional 3 to 7 business days. The total time from order to delivery is approximately 13 to 22 business days.
Tracking Information: You will receive tracking information once your order is shipped.
Return Policy
Custom Orders
- Personalized Creations: Each product is custom-made just for you, making it unique and special. As a result, all orders are final. We do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
- Our Promise: We use the finest archival materials and hand-assemble each frame to ensure top quality. Every print is color-matched to the artist's original file and fully authenticated.
- Damaged or Incorrect Orders: If your order arrives damaged or incorrect, contact us within 48 hours. Please include photos of the shipping box and the damage, along with your order number. We will work with you to resolve the issue, although we do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
Handling Damages
- Our Commitment: We stand by the quality and craftsmanship of our products. However, in rare instances, your order may become damaged during transit.
- Reporting Issues: If your order arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your package. Send clear photos of the damage and the packaging.
- Resolution Process: We will review your photos and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair or replace the damaged item. This process may take up to 30 business days. While we aim to resolve issues within this timeframe, it may extend beyond it. Replacements are subject to our current manufacturing and shipping schedules. Note that you may be responsible for return shipping costs.
Defective Products
- Product Defects: If you believe your product is defective (not just damaged in transit), please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your order. Provide clear photos and a description of the defect. We will review and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair, replace, or refund the item.
Third-Party Receivers
- Inspection Upon Arrival: If your artwork is shipped to a third-party receiver (e.g., warehouse, installer, framer), please ensure it is inspected upon arrival. Any damage must be documented immediately by sending clear photos of the damage and the packaging. Once the artwork is checked in at the warehouse, ownership transfers to you.
International Orders
- Placing Orders: Orders outside the continental U.S. and Canada will not be accepted through our website. International clients must place orders privately by contacting us via email. The buyer is responsible for shipping, duties, and any other costs associated with international shipping.
Limitation of Liability
- Scope of Liability: Our liability is limited to the purchase price of the product. We are not responsible for any incidental or consequential damages.
Dispute Resolution
- Resolution Process: Any disputes arising from this policy will be resolved as per our Terms of Use.
Posting Policy
- Visibility Requirement: Our return policy is clearly posted on our website and at the point of sale. This ensures compliance with state-specific laws requiring conspicuous posting of return policies.
For any questions or assistance, including reporting damages or issues, please reach out to us at marco@ma9.co. We are here to help and ensure you have a wonderful experience with our fine art photography.
Return Policy
- Personalized Creations: Each product is custom-made just for you, making it unique and special. As a result, all orders are final. We do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
- Our Commitment: We stand by the quality and craftsmanship of our products. However, in rare instances, your order may become damaged during transit.
- Reporting Issues: If your order arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your package. Send clear photos of the damage and the packaging.
- Resolution Process: We will review your photos and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair or replace the damaged item. This process may take up to 30 business days. While we aim to resolve issues within this timeframe, it may extend beyond it. Replacements are subject to our current manufacturing and shipping schedules. Note that you may be responsible for return shipping costs.
- Product Defects: If you believe your product is defective (not just damaged in transit), please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your order. Provide clear photos and a description of the defect. We will review and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair, replace, or refund the item.
- Our Promise: We use the finest archival materials and hand-assemble each frame to ensure top quality. Every print is color-matched to the artist's original file and fully authenticated.
- Damaged or Incorrect Orders: If your order arrives damaged or incorrect, contact us within 48 hours. Please include photos of the shipping box and the damage, along with your order number. We will work with you to resolve the issue, although we do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
- Inspection Upon Arrival: If your artwork is shipped to a third-party receiver (e.g., warehouse, installer, framer), please ensure it is inspected upon arrival. Any damage must be documented immediately by sending clear photos of the damage and the packaging. Once the artwork is checked in at the warehouse, ownership transfers to you.
- Placing Orders: Orders outside the continental U.S.,. Hawaii, and Alaska will not be accepted through our website. International clients must place orders privately by emailing me at marco@ma9.co. The buyer is responsible for shipping, duties, and any other costs associated with international shipping.
- Scope of Liability: Our liability is limited to the purchase price of the product. We are not responsible for any incidental or consequential damages.
- Resolution Process: Any disputes arising from this policy will be resolved as per our Terms of Use.
- Visibility Requirement: Our return policy is clearly posted on our website and at the point of sale. This ensures compliance with state-specific laws requiring conspicuous posting of return policies.