7 days ago
Eric Calloway
Design Dispatch, New York
Marie Smith's photographs capture the beauty of the natural world while also exploring themes of identity, intersectionality, and the human experience. By featuring individuals with diverse Black non-binary bodies in her work, Smith sheds light on often-overlooked aspects of representation in the arts.
As I stepped out of my front door and onto the familiar streets of South London, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. My lockdown walks had become a routine, one that I had continued long after the world outside seemed to have returned to normal. It was during these quiet moments, away from the distractions of daily life, that I began to reflect on my own relationship with nature and how it intersected with my identity as a Black non-binary person.
My photographic series, "The Wanderer," was born out of this introspection. It started as a simple documentation of my walks around the corner from where I grew up, but soon evolved into something much more profound. Through my camera lens, I began to see myself reflected in the natural world – in the way the light danced through the leaves, in the shapes of the trees, and in the rhythms of the earth itself. I realized that I was not just documenting my surroundings; I was also documenting a part of myself.
As I continued to explore the world around me, I began to see the connections between nature, identity, and climate change. I saw how the natural world is deeply intertwined with our sense of belonging and self-worth. And I realized that my own story, as a Black non-binary person, was inextricably linked to the stories of the natural world. Through "The Wanderer," I aim to challenge traditional notions of representation and identity, and to offer a new perspective on what it means to be seen and heard.