About Reimagining Arcadia

Arcadia is the world’s oldest escapist fantasy where humans live in peace with nature. It has been captured in the imaginations of artists such as Poussin and Lorrain. Inspired by this historical vision, ‘Reimagining Arcadia’ was shot in the far north west of Scotland, one of the few remaining areas of unspoilt wilderness in the United Kingdom. Attuned to both the beauty and rarity of the native landscape, its details, textures and seasonal changes, this work reflects upon our relationship with the landscape, how we subjugate it with our aspirations and how increasingly we disrupt it. The circle is used as a recurring motif. Its ubiquitous form has represented ideas of natural balance throughout human history, its symmetry suggests unity and beauty. Yet this motif seeks to challenge the notion. Alluding to the camera lens, it looks beneath the surface to speak to the disruptions meted out on the landscape.