Many different cultures believe in the power of magic to control, influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events. For some, magic can be a source of protection and specific practices, texts and objects are thought to shield the user from harm.
These images, made during the pandemic, explore natural materials and objects that offer powers of protection. The inherent properties of the objects suggested by their material, shape and colour are thought to bring forth corresponding qualities to ward off supernatural forces, illness and misfortune. Salt, for example, found deep in the earth's crust, was once a precious commodity and is widely used for purification.
The challenge to suggest experience with the object led to an unusual approach in my photography. I cultivated a loss of control. Technical advances, particularly in digital photography, have all been attempts to exercise precision and thus limit the role of chance. I decided to use a veil in the images as a visual metaphor for the mysterious division which separates the esoteric realm beyond the actual. The veil introduces unpredictability as it reacts to movement and light, creating an ethereal impression of the objects. The real and the imagined become blurred, giving a benign sense of solace.
