Artist statement: Wallflowers: Lombok Island
As travelers, when we come upon a place that is so far removed from what we know, the experience can feel surreal - as if you’re attending an extravagant theatrical production with elaborate set pieces and costumed performers. This was my experience when I first visited Lombok, an island that lies just east of Bali in Indonesia.
The sensory effect of being on the island is overwhelming – the smell of burning coconut, the frenetic energy of the outdoor markets, the intense colors of the architecture and clothing, the 4 AM call to prayer.
The portraits I am presenting here of local farmers, fisherman, schoolchildren, and island workers blur the lines between documentary and fiction. They are an attempt to capture the sense of magical realism I feel as a visitor in a very foreign land.
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