A study of the Five Elements
of Nature, starting with
Fire.
It was 2020, and there was a lot going on politically, to say the least. I’ve never been a political artist, but it was hard to turn away from the struggle and strife happening all over the world. The loud voices were spreading fear and hate, but there was a whisper of something else happening if you could just tune out the noise to hear it.
At the market, I came across a perfectly beautiful bouquet of white peonies. White peonies symbolize purity, innocence, and new beginnings. It seemed profound that something so pure was blooming during such a dark time. But that’s just like nature, isn’t it? After a fire, new life is imminent. Bright green life grows out of the scorched black earth.
So, I took fire to the perfect white peonies. I originally wanted to photograph them in color, burning. But it wasn’t quite right. After getting some of them pretty charred I was struck by the way the flowers did not wilt and wither but continued to hold their beauty. Just like any human who struggles with grief, heartache, injustice, depression, loss, etc. There is strength, beauty, and light that perseveres through that darkness. Growth is imminent.
