In a living person, the body’s own particles (proteins and fats) are being constantly deposited on the skin. In Protelics, these particles are absorbed by newly developed biochemical papers and filters that are applied directly to the face. The facial skin surface functions like a stamp. Wrinkles, pores, and hair are reproduced down to the smallest detail. Then, the proteins and fats are plotted and visualised in colour through a special chemical process. Biochemical efficiency and a general aesthetic moment are the decisive factors in the choice of colour. A precise representation of the skin’s narrative is crucial. The plotted proteins have no skin colour and the viewer does not run any risk of assigning them to racial categories.
If the imprint has been made with the greatest care and accuracy, the facial chemicals will enable exact detail. A portrait will emerge that not only reflects the form and expression of the sitter, but consists of his or her real materiality.