I figured could be a nice title for this book. Because the word is easily perceived as just environment and the photographs and works are all made in and around the house.
But Umwelt actually means the world as it is experienced by a particular organism. (An umwelt (plural: umwelten; from the German Umwelt meaning "environment" or "surroundings") is the specific way organisms of a particular species experience the world, which is dependant on what their sensory organs and perceptual systems can detect and interpret.)
So on my morning walk I can hear two men gossiping about Anja while Filipe the dog smells me from far and comes running to say hello because we became friends; while another dog Dunya smells Filipe on me and starts barking.
The works are all made between 2019 and 2024. I harvest seeds, photograph them and then plant them and then harvest the flowers, photograph them, dry them, photograph them.
There is a storm in the park. Trees fall and get cut in pieces. I move them, build a fire, invite friends and build toasties. On the next walk I move the pieces again and then photograph. And repeat when it snows.
Patrice decides to leave me plants and throw notes in my mail box.
I see something beautiful in the park,
I run home to get my camera.
I make wrapping paper monoprints and then photograph.
I document the drying of my yearly garlic harvest compositions.
Flags for graduation across the street,... photograph.
And sometimes when I see one of my neighbors or my mother in front of my door and all the elements are in place I make a portrait.
All this
In and around the house
is this book
is Umwelt.
