Some consider the “best” art to be that which evokes an intended feeling or idea—with a  limited set of stimuli, it sets off a chain of complex and intricate psychological and physiological reactions in the viewer, culminating in a grand interpretation of the piece. Many photographers use this basic understanding of the human mind to try to convey messages through their artwork. In this sense, the work is a means to an end; it exists primarily as the medium through which an idea,  belief, thought, or emotion is transmitted. But what if the art is an end in and of itself? What if the photographs exist not as the intermediary between messenger and recipient (artist and viewer), but as a kind of warped mirror, reflecting the viewer’s preconceived notions back onto themself? 

​

Descent is a project designed with the intention of creating an individualized experience for the viewer. As the piece goes on, and as day turns to night, many of the photographs grow more and more abstract in nature (and, thus, open to interpretation). The goal is for the absence of a clear underlying message in the work to nudge the viewer to “fill in the gaps” of information with their own thoughts and feelings. In gradually, subconsciously constructing a personalized narrative of the piece, one might question not only what they think they’re seeing, but why they think they’re seeing what they think they see. Ideally, as contextual information is being gradually removed from the work, the viewer is paradoxically reaching an epiphany about themselves. This descent into one’s own psyche can kindle curiosity and wonder; it can also spawn excitement or unease. In any case, the purpose of this project is to capture that insightful thrill for the viewer.