Praying Lily
Praying Lily Stasis Series
Sebastian Mader | New York, 2024
Type: Limited Studio Edition
Medium: Archival Pigment on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta (325 gsm)
Signature: Hand-signed and numbered on the front margin
Edition Structure: Pooled Studio Edition of 25 + 3 AP
Inspired by a 2023 ice storm in New York that encased spring flora in ice, Sebastian Mader began a study to replicate this natural preservation in a studio environment.
By freezing the flower, Mader arrests its beauty and the elements of its life cycle, water and gas, at a specific point in time. This mirrors the technical function of photography: both the ice and the camera serve to capture and hold a moment that would otherwise disappear. The ice acts as a physical preservative, documenting the specimen in its final archival form.
Provenance & Technical History +
The Ice Storm (March 2023)
Field records captured in New York following an atmospheric freeze. This event served as the catalyst for the Stasis series and the study of biological preservation.
The Studio Archive (2024)
The process was moved into the studio to replicate the initial field observations. This controlled environment allowed for a more precise exploration into the transition of the specimen into a state of stasis.
The Definitive Studio Edition (2026 – Present)
The final archival standard for the studio. Produced on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta (325 gsm) using pigment technology for superior tonal depth and 100+ year longevity. Hand-signed and numbered on the front margin to certify its status in the permanent Studio Archive.
Archival Editions in situ.
A record of the work in private and exhibition environments.