Home / Art

Giant Fingerprints Made of Everyday Materials

The aptly titled series Fingerprints by artist Kevin Van Aelst showcases the Connecticut-based artist's intricate fingerprint patterns in different mediums. Aelst literally and figuratively leaves his mark on typical settings using unconventional mediums that also happen to be common materials used in everyday life. A giant maze of tape pulled out of a cassette outlines the patterns of the artist's right index finger while a series of meticulously aligned strands of thread unspooled from its ball of yarn recreates an impression left by the artist's left index finger on the ground.

Other than mimicking his own detailed fingerprints in a clever, large-scale form, each image the artist constructs has a sense of whimsy and reflects diligent attention to detail, color, and composition. Though they may be his fingerprints, the artist inhabits a different persona in each scenario. Juxtaposing a crowd of Cheetos with a Nintendo controller gives you a sense of the character Aelst is representing–a video gamer, probably male, with orange fingers from all his snacking on the salty, cheesy puffs. The series also makes you think of how many things touch our hands everyday…

Selected prints from this series can be purchased on Eye Buy Art.









Kevin Van Aelst website
via [wicked game]

Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content