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It was at Nowegian photographer Jonas Bendiksen’s “The Places we Live” exhibition in Berlin in 2010 where photography firmly took ahold of me. I felt myself transported into some of the largest slums in the world, from Caracas, Venezuela, to Dhavari Mumbai. It was Bendiksen’s suggestive approach and innate skill with painting an intimate portrait of a single family living amongst the crushing throng, which stayed with me. Such is the power of photography. Since Bendiksen, the storytelling aspect of photography really struck a chord with me, and lead me on the path to discovering my own photographic narratives. I am fascinated by the undercurrent of an image; the meaning which resonates, whether implied or overt, from the piece.
This series titled, “Impermanence”, captures the fragility of botanicals and parallels this transience with the fleeting nature of life itself. Earlier this year my father lost his battle with prostate cancer, and it was in the wake of his passing I found comfort and solace in a certain passage that deals with grievance and absence, *and the changing forms of things that come to be, exist for a while, then cease to be. The images in this series, whilst concerned with the ebb and flow of life, the inevitability of impermanence, are tied with the thread of grief. How is one supposed to grieve? Is there an expectation of how we are to express our sorrow in the wake of losing a loved one? These images reveal our vulnerability in these times, and how the journey of grief is inherent in all of us, as it is in all life forms which come to be, exist for a while, and then cease to be.This series is a nod to the romantic noir of Czech photographer Josef Sudek’s approach, and reminiscent of Robert Mapplethorpe’s exquisite1980s flowers photographs. This exhibition would not have come about if it were not for Darren Harris, who’s photographic approach and style have inspired me and pushed me to explore my own creative boundaries.
* The Venerable Myokyo-ni 1996, Gentling the bull, Charles E. Tuttle Co. Japan.
All photographs are archival pigment inks on fine art cotton rag and available for purchase. Limited edition of 15. Please feel free to contact me and leave your details on the contacts page on this website if you are interested in any of my pieces.
All photographs and content on this site are copyright Scott Raylor 2013 except where attributed.