Discarded

Photography

16 'x 20'

The Western landscape of the United States is the central figure in much of my work. I aim to reimagine its depiction and meaning in relation to the changes it has undergone in recent history. What was once a symbol of manifest destiny, untamable wildness, rugged masculinity, and inexhaustible resources for capital gain is today becoming a symbol of overcrowding, extinction, and suburbia.

For Discarded, I gathered common domestic utilitarian objects from thrift stores, and systematically placed them into the landscape, photographing them in a deadpan aesthetic. What is first seen as a playful, somewhat absurd scene, gives way to a critique of society’s relationship to nature and consumerism. As we enter the Anthropocene, the commodification of land and resources for the comfort of modern life is a very real threat to our future.

As the window to adequately respond to climate change grows smaller and smaller, the need to take action grows exponentially. This action must start with the conversations taking place in living rooms and kitchens, amidst the vacuums, lamps, and toaster ovens.

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