SONDER, AND IN THE ABSENCE OF

[ SONDER: The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own ]

SONDER, AND IN THE ABSENCE OF is a photography project about the phenomena of unawareness, prejudice and intolerance when encountering individuals and their complexities.  

The photographic series embraces the notion of absence within each composition. Each passerby is photographed with a temporal delay in juxtaposition to others and then composited back into the frame. All passer-biers are therefore unaware of one another, as they never encountered each other in reality.

Time is highlighted by the presence of light that defines a single moment, characterizing the background. The background is photographed in a blank and neutral state, without any passer-biers in the frame. The background serves as a referential space that connects all passer-biers, yet is unaware of their presence in itself.

As the viewer is under the impression of witnessing one unaltered moment in time when viewing each composition, the deception is revealed by text, describing the conception and process of the piece. Once aware of the miss-representation each composition portraits, the viewer can no longer neglect their assumption. A more differentiated approach in observation and analysis is required by the viewer. In contrast to the passer-biers within each of the compositions, the viewer receives the opportunity to question and reflect on their own surroundings, presence and interactions with others.

MONTAGE 05 | 6604 X 4403 | NOVEMBER 2018 | NEW YORK CITY