UNSEENBEAUTY
It is very difficult to write anything at this moment without first acknowledging the hardship’s I am sure each and everyone of us are feeling at the moment (for our nearest and dearest) and how to keep each other safe from the COVID-19 outbreak. We have all tried to share positivity and humour through our online worlds and once again this has proven the importance of the creative spheres within the community at large, one of the roles of an artist is to contribute to the world through our experiences and transpose those to our pleasure censors, I am particularly interested in what we can see and touch.
I am an artist who takes photographs looking at the colour, texture and natural composition of things seen around us in our every day life (not everything I see) very specific things which catch my eye within nature. Why would I do this? First let’s look at what I photograph before we analyse the why. (@mcusb2010 - that’s me) I capture images that naturally separate in to six categories: Inner Spaces, Hydrogen Oxygen, Delicate Lifeforms, Historic Landscapes, Graffiti Nations and Urban Abstractions.
I have provided lots of information on my website about what each category represents, so to save repetition (be sure to check out the site!) I am sure by now you have do that, to get this far! - I will never underestimate the intelligence of my audience, because the more you dig the more you will find!.
The why is because each of these categories (elements) have relationships with each other in the natural world; all of the time while we go about our business. For the Last 20 years I have travelled the globe making my observations of the environment and making it my business to bring positive energy, seen in nature to those who are not able to get out and about to enjoy it themselves, but could enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes. (Sorry to say its perfect timing).
Documenting all different types of terrain, forna and flora to understand why we see what we do and why it looks the way that it does. Curiosity was my main reason to begin with, but after a while my habit of collecting close up images of things took me to very particular landscapes, which I noticed I would visit because of the way those spaces made me feel inside. Calm, relaxed, at ease or invigorated by the energy found in natural or man created environments, that kept me going back again and again.
This is why most of my activity (ISSUU online books, Instagram videos and YouTube channel). Most recently I have produced two video’s raising awareness against air pollution for Extinction Rebellion, I sent 40 of my greeting cards to a local nursing home and I made a video to raise awareness of the Ipswich charity ‘Help our Homeless’ who are an umbrella of many agencies on the front line right now dealing with this threat to those who have little safety.
I would like to encourage any artist or creative to find a local good cause to support, (any little how) send something you have created or have laying around to any cause close to your heart. As that’s how it starts, it would be great to spread joy, not the virus.
More of my online books will continue to focus on creating a space for positive Mental Health through a curiosity for Nature and the World around us. I did have some ideas planned for 2020, but plans are adaptable. Once this virus has been defeated or we adapt to live around it, I will plan my cushion exhibition (at Stoke Bridge Workshop) - some time in the future, where we can all be in the same room once again. Until then stay safe and stay inside unless you are clapping for the brave souls in our hour of need #clapforourcarers
(Appeared in: Led Creative’s News Letter / April 2020).