Chloe Dewe Mathews – IN SEARCH OF FRANKENSTEIN
‘In Search Of Frankenstein’ by Chloe Dewe Mathews is a very thrilling and inspiring project. Mathews juxtaposes the cold, eerie and (in some cases) almost surreal Swiss landscape with the empty, man made bunkers. Although the two landscapes may feel like two, very different worlds, Chloe Dewe Mathews was able to photograph and capture the two settings at peace with each other, sharing very similar atmospheres and evoking the same feelings of awe in the audience.
The context behind this collection lies in the world known novel written by Mary Shelley, ‘Frankenstein’. The story looks at what happens when man decides to ‘play god’, in this case the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, succeeds in giving life to one of his creation; this is not the perfect specimen he imagines that it will be, but rather a hideous creature who is rejected by Victor and mankind in general. The Monster seeks its revenge through murder and terror.
Chloe Dewe Mathews takes breath-taking photographs of the area that inspired the original author, Mary Shelley, to write the tale of Frankenstein. She also explores the near by bunkers, designed to protect the people in case of a nuclear war. Although the bunkers look clean and modern, there’s a sense of uneasiness about them that unsettles the reader; this is partially due to Mathews’ approach and method of photographing.
I like the composition of this image, the colors in this image usually connote a more natural and welcoming landscape, however, in this scenario they feel very fake. The emptiness of the room mixed with the hard metal locks and heavier doors make this place look more like a prison than a safe zone. Mathews intentionally photographed the bunkers in a way that makes the audience feel trapped and isolated. This could be a direct reference to Frankenstein and the monster who felt trapped in his mind and life.
The significance of photographing the bunkers and juxtaposing them with the cold landscape plays a huge part in the appeal of this project as a whole. Chloe Dewe Mathews could have presented a collection of stunning landscape photography of the ice lakes and mountains that cover Switzerland, she didn’t. She chose to display them in contrast with
Sources :
http://www.chloedewemathews.com/
http://www.bjp-online.com/2018/05/chloe-dewe-mathews-frankenstein/