In Norfolk, the landscapes are wide; the sky is an open expansion of textured clouds imitating a mountainous terrain; or a flawless spread of blue to compliment the endless green surrounding; or a deep blackness complete with crowded diamonds filling the sky. Everything is so open and free, which, I believe, is a massive contrast to the urban spectacle that is the capital city, London. In London, the buildings are tall, glamorous, intimidating, brutal, polished and blinding. The gleaming, shiny, constructed buildings congregate toward the wealth, and the more monotonous architecture is seen further out, hosting the vast amount of human cogs that keep the London system running. These buildings create the smallest of living areas, and houses that were once suitable for a family are continually being converted into 4 separate apartments, accommodating only the basic needs for each tenant. Needless to say, there are not many open areas within London; fields are surrounded by evidence of human enterprise; no wide landscapes without a building in sight; no untouched areas.
London is a self-contained entity, full of opportunity and ambition. Whatever your interests, you can find like-minded people or relevant events to expand yourself and learn more about the world, however, the crowded urban civilisation has no chance to be on one’s own self. Freedom is emulated within London through its hosting of diverse culture and opportunities, but this freedom is supervised and overseen by tools of control and power. Everywhere we go, there is an authoritarian presence, a mechanical eye is always watching, there are many restricted areas that require a specific card or identity to enter, certain groups and trends gravitate toward certain events, and there is a pressure to fit the crowd values (although this is reinforced by long-standing cemented social norms). Are we free? Comparing these factors of London with Norfolk, a small, quiet county where, stereotypically, everyone knows one another and not many people leave the area they were born in, it becomes quite obvious how different the two places are. Norfolk holds values that are the opposite to London’s freedom, but also oppose London’s control, creating freedom in that respect.
My piece creates dramatic irony between the audience and the model. The model is cramped inside the self-contained box (London) and behind them is the expansive and attractive landscape, full of natural forms and pleasantry. As viewers, we feel sympathy for the enclosed and oblivious subject. From viewing the images, we learn that when one breaks through the illusion, recognises the misconceptions, and desires more, freedom can be expressed and experienced, and life outside the box can be perceived.