In 2012 I began a series of works envisioning the impact of the atomic age on the environment and mankind. The first of these works, Pripyat, was exhibited in September, 2012. The Plutonium series are a continuation of this work, considering the role of nuclear fission in the origin of the Anthropocene.
The circular format of the images originates with the process of viewing the world through the lens of a microscope or telescope. Looking through a microscope helps us understand the underlying structure of the world by seeing things we would not normally be able to see. This process of magnified viewing is a process of revelation.
Looking through a telescope brings us closer while we are yet remote, keeping the world at a safe distance.
Embodying these concepts, the Plutonium Series are finite landscapes whose structure is obtained from the physical properties of the element.
Plutonium-239 is the primary fissile isotope used in the production of nuclear weapons, although uranium-235 is also used. Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24,110 years.
