Whilst thumbing through the creative review's photography annual
the other day, I stumbled upon the brilliant work of Jonathan
Andrew. The series of work is titled World War 2 Bunkers and is the
study of abandoned fortifications in France, Belgium and The
Netherlands.
It took me a while to figure out why they captured my attention
so strongly and why I liked them so much. But eventually I did and
I just thought I'd share with you all my mixed bag of thoughts.
In an age were we are bombarded with images, thousands a day. I
feel like I'm sometimes getting a little desensitised to it all,
but these really pulled me in and I found myself totally absorbed
for a good 20 minutes (or more). I'm not going to sit here and
describe them in great detail as I would only be doing a great
injustice.
I look at these majestic beasts of concrete and feel a real
sense of calm and ease, which is really quite bizarre and a real
contradiction when I think about what their function would have
been. Not only that, there is a real sense of cold and abandonment.
So why do they make feel at peace? Am I weird?
Well, I think it's because nature is almost reclaiming them and
them back. Even though they are far from organic forms, they look
like they could have been cut and carved from rock. They bring deep
silence as though you are alone, which thinking about it, is
something I enjoy. Like a walk in the morning before the sun is up
or later on in the twilight, a time when you have the world to
enjoy for yourself. It's as though nothing else matters.
The other thing I was thinking is this; fundamentally these
structures are safe houses. Places of protection and security. If
you remove the association of War (which I think Jonathan has tried
to do here) you are left with associations of safety and aloneness.
Don't get me wrong, I am a social creature. I think it's the idea
of total isolation excites me.
Just have a good look the texture and colours too, these are the
colour that only time and the elements can create. Enjoy.
See the series here and
other work
Tagged:
Creative, Art, Photography