Inspired by found images and objects, Pinky Ibarra Urmaza presents a new series that explores hidden stories embedded in tintypes. In her solo show, “Before The Beginning, After The End”, she alters old books and reuses the components to create each piece, playing with the possibilities of storytelling through literally deconstructing the original material. The jewel-like tones of vintage book covers worn by time, are combined with stark portraits of anonymous subjects. Through mark-making, burning, stitching, and painting, the artist invites us to allow new narratives to emerge from the surface of the image. 

However, as viewers, our understanding of these works is informed more by our own experiences than by those of the depicted. Rather than focusing on a concrete reality, Urmaza uses collage techniques to find connections between the visible and invisible. Furthermore, most of the titles are borrowed from both fiction and non-fiction books, adding another layer of ambiguity to her works. 

Each piece tells only a fragment of the story and the remnants of these strangers’ lives are replaced by our own personal histories. 

The image is never completely resolved and we then become part of the picture.