My time-based works are studies on the poetics of observation. The artistic process often begins with prolonged and patient contemplation of an environment. After capturing the distinctive features of my surroundings and their inhabitants over time, I distill the often extensive footage into a concise form.

In my current body of work, I reflect on our relationship with other animals and how they have been depicted by humans throughout the history of art and culture. Animals are frequently used metaphorically: lions signify power, wolves represent freedom. In my works, I aim to challenge anthropocentric narratives. This approach sets my work apart from classic nature documentaries, where non-human animals are commonly assigned specific roles from a human perspective.

My focus is on creating an open encounter; thus, my videos consciously embrace a sense of unknowing. They strive to perceive and understand both the present and the potential.

HOW IS YOUR WORK INFLUENCED BY THE CIRCA 2024 MANIFESTO?
When a look into another realm is obtained, what happens? Filmed in the heart of Times Square, the video of a dragonfly, which I found there on the sidewalk, creates a mesmerizing glitch, transforming the urban environment into a gateway to the unexpected. This encounter encapsulates the manifesto’s call to embrace the intimate infinity. In a world dominated by digital systems, the dragonfly—a symbol of natural beauty and complexity—evokes a reversed uncanny valley. Its iridescent wings and moon-like eyes reflect the interplay between nature and technology, creating a captivating dance of colors in the lights of the billboards. I was once told dragonflies already roamed the earth 320 million years ago; will they outlast us? My imagination of their journey through deep time casts a shadow over the transient flickers of our flat screens, a cycle of existence that bends back upon itself in the reflections we catch in the blink of an eye, or a puddle on a rain-swept street. Now, the insect that once absorbed the light of the billboards returns to illuminate the square, a full circle in the dance between nature and technology.

Just as Yves Klein’s leap into the void symbolized embracing uncertainty, the dragonfly’s presence disrupts our daily routine, evoking wonder and ambiguity. This moment mirrors the manifesto’s vision of finding beauty in the unexpected and calls us to dream of a future where art bridges the divides in our world.

WHAT WOULD YOU CREATE/DO WITH THE £30K CIRCA PRIZE?
My works “stray” and “interval” delve into an environment that currently plays host to a pack of stray dogs that I began following during the early weeks of the pandemic. The videos depict dogs navigating the ruins of an unfinished holiday resort, near a coastal town on the Red Sea. I would revisit them a third time and use the extensive footage to create a film juxtaposing shots taken years apart, carving a path through time, revealing the evolving lives of these animals.

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