AMERICAN PORTFOLIO
Series : Specimens of American SuBURBIA
The project delves into representations of place, cultural identity, and nationhood, specifically focusing on exploring master narratives and depictions of the American landscape and architecture.
My perception of the American landscape was shaped by imagery of vast, flat expanses, sparsely populated areas punctuated by rail crossings, wooden houses, large cars, and neon motel signs emerging from foggy, semi-rural surroundings. This perspective was influenced by movies, tourist guides, and the aesthetics of commercial landscape photography. However, in my quest to discover what constitutes a typical American landscape, I often encounter architectural structures that are less picturesque, more universal, yet more complex, and somewhat dystopian compared to what I had envisioned. This realization has prompted me to question the identity of places and, more broadly, the identity of any given place.
Through my work, I aim to reignite discussions surrounding representations of place, the essence of place, national identity, topography, and geography. By exploring these themes, I seek to unravel the layers of meaning embedded within landscapes and architectural structures, shedding light on the intricacies of cultural identity and the ways in which it is manifested in our surroundings.