This series of artwork is inspired by surrealism, science and esoteric spiritualism. Through photography and digital manipulation, Holly creates abstract ‘orbs’ that aim to transcend our usual realms of perception. Her process involves capturing photos of organic matter, often using macro techniques, then glitching and layering in post-production to birth strange and beautiful landscapes of unfamiliar worlds. A circular format is recurring throughout the artwork; it’s symbolism has infinite implications of the microcosm and macrocosm, both telescopic and microscopic views, depicting the form of vast celestial bodies as well as the smallest cells and embryos. Holly’s art is directly influenced by her passion for nature and interest in philosophy, as seen in her subject matter and conceptual reasoning respectively.
Blueberry Fields
2021
Inspired by Palinopsia and Afterimages; a type of optical illusion where you continue to see an image even after exposure to the actual image has ended. There are two types of afterimage; positive, in which the colours remain the same and negatives, where the original colours of the subject are reversed. The experience of these images becomes Palinopsia when they start to appear much more frequently, and are hard or impossible to just ignore. Illusory palinopsia can be caused by migraines, prescription drugs or hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), as well as other reasons. |t is defined as ‘the distorted perception of a real external stimulus’; forms of afterimages which have been affected by ambient light and motion. They are most often unformed, indistinct, or low resolution.
2021
This series titled ‘Dream Machine’ is influenced by the Dadaist technique of ‘cut ups’ demonstrated by William Burroughs in the late 50s in which he would cut up snippets of his writing and then place them in a different order for a new surrealist outcome. Similarly, in this series I have combined multiple of my photographic images to create new abstractions. It aims to transcend human perception; breaking free of the limitations of our three dimensions. Acting as a hallucination or as a window into another world of higher perception.
2021
Titled ‘Orbital Decay’, this series presents a dialogue which considers transformation, growth and decay. Using macro photography and digital manipulation to study rotting plant matter; capturing an insular moment in the process of decay and acting as a form of preservation. My use of abstraction aims to transmute the subject, reversing the process giving it a new course of growth. By intertwining myself into the life cycle of my subjects, through intervention and manipulation, the work becomes a process of my own metamorphosis, an illustration of my ability to transform, affect and create. Inspired by surrealism, cubism, and spiritual philosophy.
Series in progress, 2017 - Present.
Stepping away from using geological forms into the world of flora. A softer and more colour filled world. Celebrating the beauty and being of flowers natural forms, and responding to this by glitching photographs of them into a new shapes and perspectives.
Examining the other worldly landscapes of rotting fruit and vegetables. Macro photographs edited in photoshop for emphasis of their alien forms.
2017
Macro images of crystals captured via scanning at a high resolution on a flatbed scanner. The circular shape is representative of the view through both the telescope and microscope.
2017
Titled ‘Celestial Phenomenon’, this series presents a dialogue linking the geological and the astronomical; earth and the extra-terrestrial. Aiming to merge ideas of the natural and the artificial via digitally manipulating photographs of a variety of rocks and geological formations.
