Mixed-media art has led to the creation of exceptional projects that depict a variety of themes. Some may dabble with personal histories, oppressive regimes, societal issues, political challenges, or even environmental crises. Sometimes, it is an amalgamation of all. To give an example of such mixed-media work, we would like to invite you to a photography exhibition by Mary Mattingly, a multidisciplinary who showcases the cycle of nature and its power.
All images provided courtesy of Robert Mann Gallery.
In The Physical and Digital Realm
Titled Night Gardens, this solo exhibition examines the beauty of gardens and illustrates the mystical and symbolic potential of plants and their relationship with our environment. The images are enigmatic as they are captivating, highlighting how this correlation can impact us.
The exhibition has 12 collages, which blend physical and digital worlds in one image and urge viewers to step into an otherworldly place. The pictures are set in riparian zones, a fragile ecosystem where the water levels impact the entire environment. The work is a comment on the residence of nature. Mattingly was inspired to create the series while she was on a talk at the Socrates Sculpture Park, and the collages replicate that environment. However, what’s interesting to note is that while digitally capturing images, Mattingly hand-painted the flowers, added fabrics, and scanned the plants. Her experimental images also use mirrors and fish tanks to create an exchange between the real and the imagined.
Furthermore, Mattingly also uses emblems and lores to highlight our relationship with nature, showcase its history, and depict the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. For instance, the thistle, a flower form, is appreciated in some cultures, whereas it is looked down upon in others. Similarly, lotuses and water lilies are like the Egyptian Sun god, Re, rising from the water. The moonlit environment of her garden also illustrates the fragility of the ecosystem, which is always on the verge of change.
Speaking about her series, Mattingly adds that the project explores “how disparate elements—ancient symbols, mythic blooms, evolving plants—come together to speak of survival, imagination, and transformation in a time of environmental upheaval.” Through the miniature garden, Mattingly echoes Michel Foucault’s idea of a “symbolic and sacred enclosure.”
The Exhibition Will Open Up Your Perspectives
Foremost, the exhibition invites you to look at nature in its entirety: not just its beauty but also its significance in our lives. The way capitalist companies keep pushing their agendas, raving plants and forests, the series welcomes you to look at our shared history. Our ancestors, and now the Indigenous communities, have a sacred bond with plants that not only nurture us but also contribute to weather changes and balance the cycle of life.
At the same time, the series will broaden your horizons regarding the kinds of photography that we have today. As social media is taking over our lives, many people, especially self-taught photographers, have very few places to turn to. So, if you are a novice, an exhibition like this makes you realize the length and breadth of photography. Sometimes, a photograph is not enough; sometimes, it needs more elements to bring a vision to life. Mattingly’s work is the perfect introduction to the latter.
Night Gardens will be displayed at the Robert Mann Gallery from December 12 to February 7. Mary Mattingly will discuss the exhibition and her creative process at the opening, which will be held on December 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit Robert Mann Gallery’s website