MIIA AUTIO

DEAR ANNA,

Dear Anna,

In 1843, Anna Atkins, an English botanist, self-published a book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. It was the first book illustrated with photographs, and furthermore the first scientific manual that made use of the newly invented medium. Atkins is often mentioned as the first woman photographer.

Atkins obtained the paper that she used for her scientific illustrations from a local paper manufacturing company, Whatman. Earlier in the 18th century the founder of the company, James Whatman, developed the paper making technique that enabled the industrialization of paper manufacturing. His invention led to a wider use of paper and faster distribution of information. Almost 300 year later, the mass production of paper in Maidstone ended and today, only filter papers for scientific research are produced under the Whatman trademark.

Miia Autio uses scientific Whatman filter paper and the historical cyanotype process in her artistic study on Anna Atkins. By thinking about Anna Atkins, Autio explores the entanglement of images, information and existence. Her questions, research, observations, hypotheses, experiments, analysis and conclusions are examining notions of photography, scientific gaze and female agency in the course of history.

Artist's book, self-published in 2024

Edition of 30

Signed and numbered

Every book includes four original cyanotype prints on Whatman filter paper.

The publication was made possible with the support of The Paulo Foundation and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.