Free
Photo by Tianxi Wang
Photo by Sophia Evans
Photo by Juan Orrantia
Photo by Federico Estol
Photo by Rosie Barnes
Photo by Toyama Hiroto
Photo by John Håkansson
Photo by Jakub Stanek
Photo by River Claure
Photo by Pietro Lo Casto
Photo by Ingmar Bjorn Nolting
Photo by Jamie Tilley
Photo by Daisy Noyes
FORMAT is delighted to present a selection of FORMAT artists at the Lishui International Photography Festival
Curated by Louise Fedotov-Clements and Niamh Treacy the exhibition includes work by artists: Federico Estol (Uruguay), Tianxi Wang (China), Pietro Lo Casto (Thailand), Jamie Tilley (UK), Daisy Noyes (Australia), Jakub Stanek (Poland), Rosie Barnes (UK), Toyama Hiroto (Japan), Ingmar Björn Nolting (Germany), Juan Orrantia (South Africa/ Columbia), River Claure (Bolivia), Sophia Evans (UK), John Håkansson (Sweden).
Inspired by the core theme of the Lishui festival un/natural challenges and responds to our perception of nature and the idea of the natural. The works presented explore multiple hybrid tensions between the causes and effects of urbanisation upon nature as a result of human impact in relation to the land, flora and fauna. The artists traverse between the superhuman, ritual and urbanisation to the slowing down of modern life and reconnection to the landscape due to the pandemic lockdowns, through to the use of natural remedies and resources.
As we know, throughout human history, nature and the urban cohabit in increasingly uncomfortable eco-systems that collide together in hybrid forms, ebbing and flowing to varying degrees in response to progress. In this exhibition we can see creative interpretations that look at the impact of air pollution, the artifice of urban gardens and the commodification of artificial nature. un/natural represents a host of associations and connections including the question – is it impossible to be fully natural – or is everything of this earth related to nature, even our concrete dwellings?
Supported by FORMAT, QUAD, Arts Council England, University of Derby
NB: FORMAT and Lishui International Photography festival, partners since 2019, collaborate on exhibitions, awards, exchanges and professional development opportunities for international photographers. Lishui Photography Festival, established in 2004, takes place in Lishui city and surrounding areas. It is an international photography celebration, co-hosted by Lishui Municipal People’s Government, Zhejiang and the China Photographers Association.
