Lexicon
*cf. lexicon
**neologism by Pierre Cordier
CH chemigram
PH-CH photo-chemigram
LP localizing product or resist
auto-chemigram** (1979) Imprint of the face, the body, or a part of the body made with a localizing* product on a photosensitive emulsion*.
Bisectrix** (1972-1979) The lines formed by the " Magic Varnish*" create clearer areas in the angles which underline the bisectrices. In a square, they form an « X ». From this observation came the idea to create the Bisectrix alphabet. Each letter can be read by following the virtual image formed by the changing directions of the parallel lines.
cameraless photography Photography without the use of a camera.
Cf. Photogram*, cliché-verre*, lensless* photography
CHazard** (1975) Chemigram whose forms are organized according to random numbers
chemigram** The chemigram, invented in 1956 by Pierre Cordier, combines the physics of painting (varnish, wax, oil) and the chemistry of photography (photosensitive emulsion*, developer*, fixer*); without the use of a camera, enlarger and in full light. In 1958, to describe his technique, Pierre Cordier applied the words, today wordly adopted: chimigramme in French; chemigram in English, in Dutch & Flemish; Chemigramm in German; chimigramma in Italian; quimigrama in Spanish & Portuguese. (chimigramme was patented in March 1963 & chemigram in 1979 )
chemigrammer** or chemigramist** or chemigrapher One who utilizes the chemigram technique.
chemigram negative** (1956) Chemigram on negative material (film, plate).
" cliché-verre " A plate covered with opaque substances, sometimes engraved. Printed as a negative.
Dedalogram** (1987) Chemigram based on a maze.
(photographic) emulsion Made of silver salts in gelatin and sensitive to the effects of light.
fixer In photography, watery solution that eliminates the undeveloped silver salts from the photosensitive emulsion. In chemigram, produces white, jellow, brown.
gram From the Greek "gramma ": written sign.
Hergram** (1985) Photo-chemigram based upon the first six "Tintin" albums by Hergé.
Hexagram (1975) Photo-chemigram based upon the 64 signs of the Yi King, the oldest holy book of China.
Illegibiligram Neologism by Georges Thinès in his short story : " Le Livre illisible "
Islamgram**(1982) Chemigram based upon arab texts.
lensless photography Photography realized without the use of optics, thus without camera or enlarger.
Livrillisible** (1964-78) Unreadable book. Based on the novel by Jorge Luis Borges : " La Bibliothèque de Babel ", in " Fictions ", Gallimard, Paris, 1957.
localizing product** (1956) or resist Creates the forms in a chemigram. Ingredients found in painting’s components : varnish, wax, oil, eggs as well as grease, glue, honey, apple syrup, adhesive, felt-tip pens, etc.
Mohr Manfred (1938) German pioneer in computer art. In 1972, he inscribed certain of his programs which Pierre Cordier treated as a chemigram.
Musigram** (1977) Chemigram ressembling a musical partition.
photo-chemigram** (1963) A technique that makes it possible by a photomechanical process, to transfer an image (drawing or photo) onto the photographic emulsion and then treat it as a chemigram.
photogram Photograph obtained without a camera by interposing objects between the light source and the photosensitive surface.
photolysis Usually, the decomposition of a chemical product by the effects of light. In chemigram, the photographic paper turn blue, mauve, brown, reddish or ochre depending on the emulsion being used.
photo-resist Process based on photosensitive varnishes used in printed circuits. Used to realize certain photo-chemigrams.
silkscreen process Used to realize photo-chemigrams.
Subjektive Fotografie Movement founded by Otto Steinert in 1951. At the Köln Photokina in 1958, Steinert exhibited in the " Subjektive Fotografie 3 " section three images by Pierre Cordier.
magical varnish** (1972) Localizing product with amazing properties. In liquids it detaches itself steadily from its support. By alternating the developer and fixer baths, from a single incision in the varnish, it allows an unlimited number of parallels on either side of the incision line.