Contemporary Photography, Archival Pigment Print, "Obscene Plasticene Daydream" series by [dNASAb]

“Faux Ecologies + Artificial Reefs of the
Metaverse_Obscene Plasticene Daydream_ #7 ” 2022

Photograph, Archival Pigment print on Archival Organic Cotton Artist Rag, Exhibition ready full-frame Print mounted on aluminum with aluminum frame backing, Signed. Includes Certificate of Authenticity. Other Various Mounting + Framing Options. [NOT Generative A.I].

edition of 7

42"H (x) 29.94" W / 106.68cm H x 73.66cm W

"Each photograph represents a singular moment captured through the lens, an intimate encounter between the physical and the ephemeral."

The process begins by constructing temporary sculptures using translucent and colored plastics, reflective metals, mirrors, and glass. These materials are embedded with LEDs and fiber optics, adding an ethereal quality to the scenes. In complete darkness, I photograph the compositions using long exposures. As the shutter remains open, I become a performer, physically hand-lighting the sculptural set and manipulating the LEDs, atmospheric effects, and video projections to shape the final image. Each photograph represents a singular moment captured through the lens, an intimate encounter between the physical and the Ephemeral.

Central to my creative process is the concept of augmentation. I have always sought to transcend traditional photography by integrating various elements and techniques to augment the visual narratives I wish to convey. Instead of relying solely on capturing the visible world, I construct temporary models and room-sized sets that serve as the stage for my photographic compositions. These meticulously crafted environments combine illuminated sculptures, up-cycled materials from my waste stream, complex lighting arrangements, natural elements, and often carefully arranged flora, reminiscent of Ikebana, transforming the scenes into multidimensional works of art.

To further enhance the impact of my imagery, I employ a diverse range of lighting techniques, incorporating motion, atmospheric effects, reflections, mist, fog, running water, and even explosives.These experimental approaches allow me to create images that serve as visual references to the pivotal moments in the history of technological and human progress. I seek to document and visualize significant shifts in culture and advancements, highlighting the explosive changes that augment our future lives.

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) has captivated the artistic sphere, my latest body of work challenges the perception of "generated" imagery. While the digital realm is often associated with AI-created art, I intentionally blur the boundaries by presenting photographs that appear to be AI-generated but are, in fact, physical models and illuminated sculptures crafted from reclaimed materials. Through the use of complex lighting systems, I encapsulate time and space within these physical constructs, creating a sense of mystery and wonder that invites viewers to question the boundaries of reality.

In this narrative, the beautification of discarded objects serves as a poignant commentary on our propensity for wastefulness, transforming seemingly insignificant remnants of consumption into beautifully abstract compositions. The visual language I employ is a deliberate attempt to illustrate the crisis we face—a crisis manifest in the myriad types, sizes, and materials designed for single-use, now left to decay in the earth, a chilling 
spectacle reminiscent of dystopian fiction.

These images compel us to confront the uncomfortable reality that our pursuit of greed has led to the toxification of our lands, marked by landscapes of decay and ruin that we often intentionally overlook. My photographs stand as a written testament, an earnest narrative endeavoring to transform the negative into an optimistic vision of the future.