Elective Affinities is a scientific term developed in the 1700’s to describe the chemical attraction of certain substances to each other in preference to others. Used by Johann Wolfgang Goethe as the name for a novella in which the chemical metaphor defines the conflict between bonds created by culture and the bonds formed through chemical attractions. An apt description of how the collages for this series came to be created. The images cut from illustrations seemed to fall together, some images sitting more happily with others until each work could be changed no further.

Exhibited: 20th November to 8th December, 1984, Mori Gallery, Sydney

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

A Heart Like a Rock in The Sea, 1984. Collage of cut photo- offset magazine illustrations. 76.8 h x 70.7 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Portrait Profile, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations and moire contact photo paper. 80.8 h x 70.7 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Garlanded Youth, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations and moire contact photo paper, 65.2 h x 42.2 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Optimist, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 59 h x 41 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Premonitory Portrait, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 65 h x 55 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Widow, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 65 h x 60 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Pearly Freak, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations and moire contact photo paper. 50 h x 42 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Urbino Descendant, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 65 h x 55 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Woman with Stoney Breasts, 1984. Collage of cut photo- offset magazine illustrations. 70 h x 60 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Positive Attitude, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 76.8 h x 49.7 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Pilot, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 50 h x 40 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Stare, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations and moire contact photo paper. 59 h x 41 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Fundamentalist, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 68 h x 60 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Fabled, Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 2012. 49 x 35 cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Bride, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations and moire contact photo paper.. 65 h x 60 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Bystander, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 55h x 45 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

In and Out the Other, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations. 65 h x 60 w cm

Fiona MacDonald, Artist. Australia.

Farewell Gesture, 1984. Collage of cut photo-offset magazine illustrations and moire contact photo paper.. 77 h x 55 w cm

Photo Credit: Kalev Maevali – art work documentation