From the Garden
The connection to the garden and the act of growing and nurturing plants is an integral part of my practice. Whether I am working with Anemones in my garden or the delicate nodding bells of Campanula rotundifolia in Scotland, I feel a deep connection with the environment and a commitment to sustainable coexistence.
The images I create function as memento mori still lifes, reminding us of the sober realities that exist alongside their sensuous beauty. While the urban garden may be small and somewhat artificial, its positive contribution to local ecosystems is undeniable. Protecting and nurturing plants in an urban environment can significantly impact biodiversity.
While leaves, seeds, and buds comprise the subject matter, this series of images functions both as a botanical documentation and an exploration of the semiotics of natural objects. The plants from my garden stretch our imaginations, transcending metaphor to become active characters. By playing with viewpoint and scale, I give these plants a new position in the spotlight. Through close examination, they transform from their mundane representations into significant and thought-provoking subjects.
Initially, I moved away from manufactured film negatives and instead worked with resin-coated paper. Since then, I have transitioned and now focus on hand-coating paper to use in the camera as the negative. This handmade technique fosters a deeper connection with the material, creating an emotional and tactile relationship with the process. In this series, the negative itself becomes the finished piece of art. While the process is unpredictable and time-consuming, this slower and more considered approach often reveals unexpected details.