The Dialogue Project at Swatch Peace Hotel Artist Residency begins not with grand…
The Dialogue Project at Swatch Peace Hotel Artist Residency begins not with grand gestures, but with a moment of unexpected clarity.
While navigating the practical challenges of settling into Shanghai, a frustrating search for a printer led me to discover a hidden urban garden. This serendipitous encounter perfectly embodied the core of my 'Dialogue' project - exploring the delicate interplay between urban spaces and natural refuges in Shanghai.
These initial works employ techniques inspired by traditional shanshui (山水) philosophy, where the emphasis lies not in literal representation but in capturing the essence of place and moment. Through multiple exposure techniques and intentional meditation on space, these images explore how nature creates moments of tranquillity within urban complexity.
The first image captures the layered depths of foliage against weathered surfaces, while the second work explores a meditative dissolution of form - reflecting how these urban garden sanctuaries offer essential moments of grounding in our accelerated city lives. Through multiple exposures, these works explore what research has long confirmed: that these green spaces are not merely decorative but vital sanctuaries for our psychological wellbeing. In finding this garden during a moment of frustration, I experienced firsthand how these pockets of nature serve as crucial points of reconnection and restoration within the urban fabric.
This marks the beginning of a three-month exploration at @SwatchPeaceHotelResidency, investigating how these urban sanctuaries influence our collective experience of Shanghai's built environment.
I have included both the finished piece and what I describe as the "origin" image. I think most people will be familiar with my approach, if not please reach out happy to share more information.
