What are you exploring? - Idea
The disconnection from nature became a gradual process over time as people became desensitised and adapted to new societies. Through generations, social economic changes and technological impacts became increasingly dominant making many people deeply disconnected from the natural world we evolved in. Urban populations are ever increasing, with an increasing demand in resources the entire socio-economic system perpetuates its dominant worldview of ecological disconnection. While there have been great technological advances to improve our lives, this social connection is rather lost when it comes to nature. The idea that the natural world only exists to serve human needs has become all too apparent. Its irreversible damage evident with the loss of natural habitats and species due to agriculture and land clearing among other causes. It can affect our lives in a myriad of different ways and even cause psychological trauma. Glenn Albrecht an Australian environmental philosopher coined this malaise as Psychoterratic. 'Sever' explores this dichotomy between nature and people using abstract forms, dreamscapes, and wildlife as a kind of visual metaphor for this lost connection.
Why do you want to do it? - Motivation
I've always felt this calm and reverence for the natural world and as technological impacts become more powerful, so do the implications with our connection to the natural world. As global warming affects everyone and temperatures are exacerbated each year, I wanted to create a kind of visual metaphor rather than documentation of this disunity between nature and people. There's also this interest in how it affects people psychologically, and is encroaching on the environment for resources really that conducive to humanity? Through the looking glass, the eco systems and fauna are drowning in our undoing. Until some semblance of balance is restored, we are bound by this anxiety. These images offer a visual representation of this disconnection.
How will you explore it? - Photographic approach
For this series, research into this idea of disconnection between people and nature will help formulate the concept of the series. The locations for shooting will be set in urban and natural environments to juxtapose together and bring forth the series theme. I plan to experiment shooting with plastic, creating lens refraction and use various shutter speeds. Aside from random locations, I will mostly work spontaneously rather than photograph with a shot list and go with my instincts into what I feel works well with the composition.
Presentation of Work
The images will be presented in single format or diptychs to create a sense of balance or symmetry within the composition and aim to convey the message through the interaction of the two panels. The choice of black and white is to elevate the contrasts between the two diverging images, sometimes with the leading lines merging into the next image to elevate this juxtaposition. They will be printed on Canson BFK Rives White cotton paper as it has a balanced soft grain that can bring out the detail of the image.
