Our work
MAYDAY: THE INTERNALITY & EXTERNALITY OF DEPRESSION
I explore how we love, express love, and cope when love dissolves. I am drawn to vulnerability and brokenness in moments of loss, loneliness, or hopelessness, and the yearning for healing and renewal. In this work, I investigate the burden of depression, its internal feel, and external manifestations. These photographs capture quiet, tender moments of human fragility and adversity, poised at the brink of renewal. MonaLisa.
The Protagonist in the Landscape: Ephemeral Presence and the Human Imprint
The temporality of our lives means that, although we are protagonists in the landscape, we remain short-term visitors. The cracks in the parched earth, lichens on ancient boulders, and wind-sculpted sand dunes all attest to the passage of time that dwarfs our fleeting presence.
Yet, in our interactions with the land, we leave traces of ourselves behind, both visible and invisible. With every step, we imprint the soil, shedding skin and scattering our essence like dust. The carbon in our breath transforms into foliage, and when we take our final rest, our bodies return to the earth, becoming grass, wildflowers, or lakebed sediment.
Thus, the distinction between the land and us blurs, our stories intertwining in an ever-evolving narrative. Each photograph in this series invites you to pause and witness this extraordinary interplay. In a dry riverbed’s serpentine curves, we may find echoes of our own journeys. In a gnarled tree’s weathered bark, we might recognize our shared experience of resilience and the passage of time.
The Protagonist in the Landscape beckons viewers to contemplate their place within this reciprocal dance between the ephemeral and the enduring. It asks us to look deeply at the landscapes we inhabit, seeing them not as separate from ourselves, but as the very stage upon which the story of our lives unfolds—and the keeper of our stories long after we exit the scene. MonaLisa.
About Face: 7 Men, 7 Women
The About Face project explores the power of the micro physiognomic close-up in portraiture, revealing the inner lives, experiences, and humanity of its subjects. Through a series of photographs and short films featuring seven women and seven men, I capture the expressive nuances of each face, radiating their truths, personalities, and passions. The accompanying short films, featuring intimate interviews, add depth and context to the photographic portraits, showcasing a range of emotions from moments of strength to fragility.
As you explore the About Face project, I invite you to consider the stories etched upon these faces and the ways in which they mirror your own journey through life. These images and films offer a glimpse into the lives of remarkable individuals, capturing the myriad emotions that define our shared human experience.
While listening to their stories, you may find yourself wondering if they are saying hello or making farewells, prompting questions about their futures and the universal experiences we all share. The About Face project aims to create a powerful, emotionally resonant experience that encourages empathy, self-reflection, and a deeper understanding of the human condition. MonaLisa
PORTRAITS
There is no greater work of art than a great portrait. HENRY JAMES
Request an invitation today for one of the 30 sessions Monalisa will photograph in 2024.
