My large-format images honor the tradition of staged photography while addressing a timely topic: relationships in contemporary society. “Archipelago” explores interpersonal connections and disconnections as well as the tension between our everyday reality and our inner reality. The tableau photographs operate as a collection of “islands,” separated by the loneliness of each one and connected by the intimate bond of belonging to the same world. I am particularly interested in the dichotomy between the human longing for closeness and the need for individuality.
I stage and construct my images to address the social constructs that individuals live within, such as class, family and gender. In “Archipelago,” the setting informs the relationship between the people in the photographs and conversely represents a psychological extension of the characters. I draw inspiration from real life by working with sitters who are my friends or family and add a theatrical dimension through my directorial approach, resulting in a fusion of reality and fiction.
The images of “Archipelago” were created in several countries in the western world and are linked by a universal psychological and sociological dimension. “Archipelago” will be published as a monograph by Kehrer Verlag in 2021 with an essay by Vicki Goldberg.