Polyp

Polyp engages with marine life — specifically the soft, columnar bodies of coral polyps or related cnidarians found in the reef systems of tropical Southeast Asia. These organisms present an unusual subject for printmaking, their repeated, near-identical forms suggesting both biological order and accumulation. Kiggell's water-based technique allows for subtle tonal variation across clustered forms, and the absorbency of washi permits delicate pigment gradients that give the polyps a sense of translucency analogous to their actual tissue. The grouping of figures within the composition reinforces the serial, colony-like character of the subject, exploring the tension between individual unit and collective structure.