By documenting my immediate world I am creating visual metaphors for common themes of life and the experiences we all share. For years I have been exploring themes and tropes of midwestern towns, and its communities. Through my work, I try to invite the viewer to tap into their own life experiences – to see parts of themselves, their lives, and compare my images to their own memories, and create a feeling of commonality.
Natural Setting Series – Constructions of people and places touch on the surreal tension created between humans and our reconstructed ‘nature’. Likewise, other images highlight the ironic use of fabricated natural objects placed within a natural setting. These different scenes in the Natural Setting series explore the same question – why do we feel compelled to re-create natural environments and how do we interact with them? What do these scenes of ‘nature’ say about our interaction or valuation with it?
Cary Benbow 