Phillipa Klaiber and Michael Swann are photographic artists based in Bristol, who began collaborating while completing the MA in Photography at UWE(Bristol). Through collaborative work Phillipa and Michael bring together some of the central themes of each of their practices; spirituality, nature, queerness and culture.
Phillipa’s previous body of work, Vorest (2018-2020), considers the role of forests in myths and folklore, as well as the relationship between the narratives of the past and the environment in the present. Vorest was shortlisted for the OD Photo Prize 2022 and the Photobook Awards EI2021. Phillipa is currently working on a series of projects that deconstruct our understanding of the natural world and reinterpret it through a queer feminist lens. One work in progress, an untitled obsession with fungi, was exhibited in East meets West, ’22’ at Format Festival.
Michael’s in-progress body of work, An Ascension, explores his relationship to his same-sex partner and how his Catholic education as a child impacted on the way he navigated his sexuality. An Ascension was selected as the winner of the PhotoLux InTarget Award 2022.
His previous body of work, Noema (2018-20), follows the search for the Virgin Mary’s presence in two locations in which she has reportedly been seen; the project was recently shortlisted for the PHmuseum Photography Grant 2021, the ISSP SELF PUBLISH RIGA Dummy Award 2021 and awarded runner up for the Landskrona Artist Residency.
