Senior Thesis Exhibitions (2020-2021) > Aubrey Thornsbury

Artist Statement

This work is inspired by my passion for the environment and seeing the mistreatment of our planet on a daily basis. There are over 5 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans. Our food and water resources are being contaminated daily. It is not only affecting humans, but many animals and marine life too.

Throughout this work there are many uses of waste. All of the waste comes from local trash pick-ups, thus literal garbage is being woven into the images. Purpose being to highlight pollution, one of the many environmental issues we face in the world. It is local, it is global, it is here.

The pieces are shot with dramatic lighting to emphasis the dramatic damage that happens to our planet on a daily basis. They are all an aspect of the human body to keep people accountable, because it something that we are causing and could also end.

Taking care of environment is not a political thing, it is a beautiful thing that needs to be done and it needs to be done now. Through the use of beauty in these images, it is to bring the eye to the photos, and then create a spotlight for the bigger uglier issues we face today.

Deluged
Digital Photography
11" x 14"
2020