Uncanny Cacti (After the Bechers)

Entitled "Uncanny Cacti (After the Bechers)," my latest photo-based desert work is an ongoing series capturing fantastical portraits of the iconic Joshua Tree and Saguaro cacti. Rooted in a multi-dimensional exploration, this project delves into the nexus where reality converges with perception, and the tangible merges with the imagined. By stripping away the customary backdrop of the desert landscape and narrowing the focus solely on the upper reaches of cacti, I invite viewers to challenge their assumptions and delve into the socio-historical intricacies surrounding these remarkable botanical specimens.

Through in-camera cropping, golden hour captures, and manipulation of color channels in post-processing, I orchestrate a discordance between myth and reality, seeking to authentically convey my experience of these desert denizens. Amidst the documentation of these plants, imperiled by the impacts of global warming and human intervention, I bear  witness to the enduring presence of these ancient desert sentinels.

While starkly diverging from the ethos of the 1920s German tradition of Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) , my series draws explicit inspiration from the conceptual photography of Hilla and Bernd Becher, renowned for their typological studies of disappearing industrial structures. 

Departing from their austere aesthetic, I infuse my imagery with a confectionary color palette, portraying each cactus as a distinct individual within a broader taxonomic framework. Through this approach, coupled with the inherently anthropomorphic allure of these cacti, a palpable sense of humanity emerges, fostering a deeper emotional resonance than one might expect from the Bechers' industrial subjects.

Ultimately, my aim is to invoke a sense of wonder and curiosity regarding these quirky plants, fostering a profound appreciation for their beauty and resilience, while prompting introspection on humanity's interconnectedness with the natural world.

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40”x 28”
Digital archival photo rag with UV laminate