Morgan Levy, a recent graduate from Tisch School of Art Photography
Department, made a new body of photographic works -- the series "In
Joshua Tree" -- in 2007 when she ventured out West, like many of her
artistic predecessors.
Her large size photographs are monumental in size, but un-heroic in
their tone. It can be said that her depiction of nature is a
compassionate vision: she offers the viewers an intimate look into
Western natural grandeur. Her intimate approach suggests a
possibility of transformative perception --- it gently leads us
towards an imaginary landscape, prompted by natural beauty. Her
representations of nature linger between the realm of sublime and
the sphere of prettiness, refusing simple categorizations.
The artist has explained her work:
"These images from Joshua Tree National Park are part of my ongoing
efforts to photograph natural landscapes that seem otherworldly. The
thousands of Joshua trees appear prehistoric and prompted my
imagination of the park as an ethereal landscape. Working with a large
format camera I aimed not to document, but to transform the trees and
cholla cacti into primordial creatures and the landscape into an
imaginary environment."
