Statement

Ethereal Nature is a collection of botanical lumens, cyano-lumens and phytogram prints. These images are created using a historic cameraless process where the plants, soaked in a special formula, are placed on light sensitive paper and exposed to the sun. Each one is a miracle of nature’s artistry revealing branching veins, varied edges and complex arrangements of stem & leaf.

These one-of-a-kind prints are transient: they are not chemically stabilized to endure. They will deteriorate, darken or fade over time through the action of light, highlighting the fragile existence of our natural world. No one is ignorant to the destructive forces on the environment worldwide. This year will bring major challenges to fresh air, fresh water and undeveloped land.

By creating these evanescent photographs, Wakefield strives to challenge the presumption of permanence, of process and a finished product. These images will purposefully degrade to convey the collective grief and loss of our habitats. The work is a symbolic rendering of photography’s ability to frame nature and explore our complex relationship to it. And like nature these plant portraits are exposed to constant alterations.