Biophilia: Exploring Nature's Healing Touch

My "Biophilia" project emerged from a profound exploration of our innate connection to nature and the therapeutic impact of animals. Drawing inspiration from my own experiences with the healing power of the natural world, I embarked on a journey to manifest the transformative effects of nature through my multidisciplinary art.

Nature possesses an extraordinary capacity to alleviate mental illness, and my work is an homage to this phenomenon. I was driven to craft a project that not only culminated in a positive end result but was a source of positivity throughout its creation.

At the project's inception, I grappled with whether to focus on the realm of plants, flowers, and gardening or to encapsulate the essence of animals, particularly dogs and cats. Given my background in Veterinary Nursing and the intimate understanding I have of these animals, along with my own menagerie of pets who have provided solace during my darkest hours, I gravitated toward the latter.

During a heartfelt conversation with my peers, I shared the story of a man I know, who grapples with mental illness. I recounted the remarkable transformation that takes place when he steps into his aviary, where his pain and darkness seem to dissipate, replaced by love and serenity. It was this profound experience that led me to hone in on birds as my artistic focal point. Their small and delicate nature made them an ideal symbol of the fragility of our mental health.

In creating my work, I aimed to capture the very moment my father enters his aviary and share that sense of tranquillity with the viewer. Through visual aesthetics, sound, and an overwhelming sense of calmness, I wanted to offer a holistic sensory experience.

To bring my vision to life, I meticulously crafted 3D birds using Bindwire, placing them in their natural habitat. With my Canon EOS 2000D, I photographed these avian creations bathed in the soft glow of natural daylight.

Hanging the wire birds within a veil of white netting, I skilfully played with ambiance and shadows by introducing a gentle fog light from below. Alternating between a yellow and a red plastic sheet over the light source allowed me to control and manipulate the lighting to evoke different moods.

These wire birds delicately lined the rim of the white netting, which was suspended from the ceiling. The presence of LED lights along the room's walls facilitated the establishment of the perfect mood for the photographs. I positioned myself beneath them, as my ultimate objective was to convey serenity and create a dream-like experience.

"Biophilia" is an artistic exploration of the therapeutic magic of nature and the role of animals in alleviating the burdens of mental illness. It invites the viewer to immerse themselves in the captivating serenity of the natural world through a multisensory artistic journey.