In 2012 I began a series of works examining the impact of the atomic age on the environment and mankind. The first of these works, Pripyat, was exhibited in September, 2012. The Uranium series continue this work examining the role of nuclear fission in the origin of the Anthropocene and were partially inspired by a 2018 report of a tiny particle of Uranium-235 found over Alaska in August 2016 (the first in over 20 years). Some scientists believe it probable this particle originated in North Korea.
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 Uranium Series are finite landscapes whose structure is obtained from the physical properties of the element
Uranium-235 is used in medical radiotherapy, fuel for nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons, and radioactive dating. The radioactivity of uranium-235 makes it extremely harmful when ingested or inhaled, causing a number of serious health conditions. Contamination can occur through inhalation during mining, milling, and fallout, or indirectly through contaminated groundwater.
