Hope

BSIDE Gallery, Fitzroy VIC

‘Caito, Ash and Bedsheets’

2023

Limited run (1/10), A3 on CANSON BFK Rives 310gsm, mounted on art board by Matte Image.

11.7” x 16.5”

As a film photographer, my process is slow and monitored, which has resulted in me categorising some of my work as "intimate portraits". In the time it takes to shoot, I often receive the privilege of seeing behind the social masks we tend to put up. When thinking about the theme of "Hope", I see this tender embrace of two long-distance lovers as an action that reveals a nuanced duality. Loneliness and comfort can coexist, just as shadows blend with light within black and white photography. Amidst a world saturated in individualism and solitude, Caito and Ash's connection represents a beacon of resilience.  This image, along with many others in my "Queer Love Forever" series, stands testament to the enduring strength of human connection, even in the bleakest moments (post-COVID, amidst a global recession, the cost of living ballooning, capitalist structures paving the way etc.). In the simplicity of black and white, I have tried to distill emotions down to their core essence, whilst creating a mood that mirrors the complexities of being faced with long-distance love and longing. "Hope" stands as a reminder that unity, whether romantic, platonic, familial, or self-referential, has a profound power that allows us to transcend solitude.