Surreal Sublime
The aim of Surreal Sublime is to make visible the hum of energy present in the physical world, exploring the similarity between forms of organic plant matter and the detritus of the city. Inspired by the play of light and shadows, the project explores the intersection of the ethereal and the tactile, and the realm of intangible possibilities in the space between what we look at and what we see—whether formally planted flowers or litter on the sidewalk.
A deep reverence for playfulness and imagination informs the making of these images. As a child growing up in an idyllic Midwestern suburb, I spent my time playing outside engrossed by the small details of the world around me, helping my mother and grandmother tend their large, beautiful gardens. As an adult, I live in the heart of Brooklyn in a row of apartment complexes with barely a green plant in sight, while also just steps from the lush Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This juxtaposition led me to view the litter and scraggly plant forms on my block with the same magical fascination. In order to capture this feeling in photography, I created my own experimental close-up camera lens out of a potato chip canister and painter’s tape, using its kaleidoscopic character to explore both environments.
This technique introduces an element of mystery, giving the images unresolved narratives in order to create a poetic puzzle for the viewer. My wish is for viewers to walk away with a sense of the power of imagination, having experienced a transcendental encounter between themselves and the world around them.