ART
OCEANSIDE
Oceanside is a series of experimental photographs taken on the precipice of the unknown; where land meets water, the latter of which makes up the majority of planet Earth and remains largely inaccessible to humans. The series reflects upon the things which may be out of view to us, below the surface of what we see, reveal, or understand, the currents which flow through us that are beneath conscious awareness, and what we imagine, fantasise, project, or insert into such intangible spaces. From intuition to fabrication, from gut instinct to delusion, how we join dots to make constellations, how we interpret and make sense of the obscured, both individually and collectively, can influence the narratives of our existence. 35mm film photographs of the shoreline, which are physically submerged in saltwater resulting in leaking emulsions, reveal fluid, shimmering colours and dripping, pointed shapes. Processed and presented without any digital editing, to be interpreted as is without further artist intervention.
Penetrate
Roots
Hints
Deeper
Clarity
Touch
Secrets
Intuition
Peek
Saturate
Influence
Accumulate
Flash
intention
Washed
Lost
Shell
Artist Statement
Influenced by surrealism and interested in abstraction, my practice employs experimental photography and mixed-media techniques primarily to self-reflect. Drawn to all things analogue, I combine film photography with alchemic processes to disrupt the development process and physically alter the resulting images. I also layer photographic images with other media to alter them post-development. Central to my process is working with the dual forces of intention and chaos. I deliberately affect chemical emulsions and apply media which cause unpredictable results. These include light leaks, texture, polychromatic colour, and amorphous shapes. I opt not to digitally edit, preferring a tactile approach, organic outcomes, and to embrace aberrations. This approach facilitates emergent meaning, allowing for symbols, patterns, and narratives to be interpreted post hoc by both myself as the artist and viewer. Themes I explore include personal experiences of emotion states, identity, bisexuality, perception (including synesthesia), and existentialism. I hope to evoke introspection and invite open-ended interpretation rather than prescriptive meaning.
