Think of the ideal image of our natural world. Now picture trails and natural wonders littered with trash, surrounded by cars and traffic, millions of footprints pounding their way to snap a photo for their feed. Imagine thousands of initials carved into the most beautiful rock faces on Earth. I believe the protection of the environment should be the priority of all tourists, weekend warriors, and full-time adventurers.
The journey to a balanced green Earth is an endless and undefined path that will be filled with invention. The future of our relationship with nature remains fragile and uncertain. There are many threats to the organic world, and the preservation of our parks addresses just one fraction of the problems, none of which can be solved without an understanding of humanity’s complicated relationship with nature; we are part of nature after all. Our well being relies on nature’s health, but society enables habits destructive to the Earth, like unsustainable amounts of consumption.
Climbing and hiking outdoors led to my personal efforts to preserve and rebuild nature. I endeavor to create contemplative environments for the viewers of my work to refamiliarize themselves with nature. I am building and photographing portals, entryways into nature and symbols of human presence. The portals create thresholds between manipulated and virgin environments. However, the line between manipulated and pure nature is foggy; can humans be considered natural if we defy the natural cycle of life? Pure nature does not exist. Humans taint parks like Yosemite with pollution and liter. A photograph of a landscape reflects the people whose actions sculpt the land.
With portals and photographs I explore my connection to nature, and provide others with a space to consider their own relationships with nature. The portal may lead to a paradise of sprawling nature, or the aftermath of the Anthropocene Era.
Images from Albiann’s Thresholds series are shown below (click to view image at full size / original format).
EXHIBITION DISPLAY
Albiann presents the photographs in a custom wooden box in order to create a tactile experience reminiscent of looking through an old box of family photos or sentimental objects. The box creates associations between nature and beloved memories. Her hope is that if people give the same love to their environment as they give to their priceless possessions, nature will regain its vitality. The dome and drapes that envelop the box of photographs enhance the intimate atmosphere. Albiann wants viewers to hold the photographs as tenderly as she did when she framed them in her camera.
ABOUT ALBIANN TULLY
Albiann Tully is an Artist and Fabricator living in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of Michigan’s Stamps School of Art and Design in 2017. Her work focuses on large format film photography. Albiann is an avid rock climber and hiker, and her passion for nature has led to her personal efforts to preserve and rebuild the environment through photography.
Website: albianntully.carbonmade.com
Instagram: @albitully
CREDITS
Unless otherwise stated, all words and images in this article are © Albiann Tully
