What Are Electrostatic Monotypes?

The original process for capturing these static electric shocks are what Kim calls Electrostatic Monotypes. These are unique prints that directly capture the physical form of static electricity. And while this imagery may look foreign (yet vaguely familiar), she assures you that this work is not abstract, but rather it is entirely representational, and true to life.

Much like infrared photography, radio telescopes, and x-ray imaging, the process of making these prints works to bring some aspect of the electromagnetic spectrum into the limited range of human perception. Normally, electricity is only experienced as momentary flashes of light, and while it's function is ubiquitous, its form can rarely be enjoyed. Electrostatic monotypes allow safe passage to explore this world of hidden beauty.

The marks captured on these prints are created by static electricity, as it interacts with objects and the  environment. Look at them as a kind of two-dimensional finger print left behind by a three-dimensional finger. Objects are subjected to an electric charge, and as the electricity flows, charged particles (called ions, which display either a positive or negative charge) are deposited, like a residue, onto a special surface plate on which the objects sit. And much like a finger print, this residue can be made visible when dusted.