Carbon Copies
Artist Statement
My photography series, “Carbon Copies,” conceals the predictability of suburban houses through renovations with my pencil. Homes that lie in typical suburban settings often appear as pale imitations of one another. This series aims to break the cycle of uniformity and conformity that can be prevalent within these developments. I chose to draw on top of my photos with graphite pencil because graphite is a form of carbon comparable to the original houses.
In my series, I wanted to show what our society today, has become. I believe that today’s society has become rigid and dull and we are basically being brainwashed by technology. Our world is in a constant state of change; however, with suburban developments, nothing changes and there is a feeling of repetitiveness. The developments that are going on in our communities today create such a disruption towards our economy, population, and most important, the environment we live in as well as the one we share with wildlife. Not only is it hard to look for your house in one of these developments but it is also killing the creativity and beauty of unique architecture.
When I was manipulating the photos, I had the urge to make them flawless. This was due to the subject matter I was shooting, which was very structural and inorganic. My series can also be looked at as very ironic because the theme of uniformity that presents itself within the original photographs get transformed into something with more individuality.