Artist Statement

HUMAN IMPACT IN THE DESERT OF CALIFORNIA - A MATTER OF SCALE

In my pictures, I explore the impact of human alterations in the largest desert of Southern California. I show how minuscule humans are in the vast desert landscape, yet how many permanent traces we leave. I research the conflict in the use of public land and how scars from iconic constructions from the early 20th century, built for economic reasons, neglecting historical significance and traditional use of the land, for instance, by native tribes, continue to be visible, some actively used and some abandoned. They teach an authentic, walkable history lesson of how industrialization permanently altered the landscape of the American West.

THE LAND & LEAVE NO TRACE

My work investigates human presence in multi-use land and the challenges that arise from it. The land is divided and managed by many different entities such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the State of California. Each entity imposes different rules and restrictions. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, with 2,371.2 km2 the largest state park in California, regulates recreational and other use of public outdoor spaces by implementing the Leave No Trace principles in 2021 to educate visitors and deal with increased visitor numbers since COVID-19 started.

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER IN A LANDSCAPE OF MAXIMUM CONTRAST

My research, which explores the rate of alterations, is informed by the public saying that “nothing lasts forever.” On the one hand, change in the desert is prolonged. Due to little precipitation, vegetation is sparse and arid. Only the most drought-tolerant plants survive. Nature struggles with harsh conditions and cannot reclaim damage caused by rock blasting for road and railroad construction. Newly established trails created by off-roaders are determined to stay for a long time.

On the other hand, natural change can be rapid. Flash floods alter the landscape within hours. The shapes of the mainly dry riverbeds change every year. Rockfall and cave-ins block trains and cause expensive repairs. Irreversible human change is caused by day mining at the Gypsum quarry in the Fish Creek Mountains, discovered in 1922. A landscape that was developing for 100 million years by tectonic plates rising from the Pacific Ocean basin forming mountains.

I look at the decay caused by anthropogenic changes. The railroad through the desert was built with incredible effort and sacrifice. It is now abandoned. Tracks, tunnels, and wooden trestles decompose on their own and offer a beautiful compositional element. While I took a documentary approach to this project, aesthetics and presentation are equally important. Many photographs include small details, such as cars or humans, in the vast unfathomable landscapes. Elements that are easily missed. The presentation responds to the scale of the landscape.

My work is a reminder of our Earth’s durability and fragility. SF

Artist Statement

Sacred Land - Scarred Land