Sublime Landscapes

Sublime Landscapes

Ellen Jantzen unearths new states of reality through digital manipulation. Scientific theories about space, time and the ever-expanding universe provide a starting point for a portfolio which looks beyond the surface to reveal new layers of meaning.

A Resonant Chill, part of the Aesthetica Art Prize in 2016, draws upon folktales and legends, using imagery of forests and trees to make the ephemeral visual. In a similar way, Unexpected Geology, Jantzen’s most recent series (shown above), examines the relationship between place and the psyche, revealing how interactions with the environment shift through relocation. Inspired by a move from the Midwest to the mountainous regions of New Mexico, the series records the organic formations that punctuate the landscape. Often monumental, each image plays with notions of proportion and perspective, using digital enhancement techniques to merge the observed world with imagined realities.

Since taking part in the Art Prize, Jantzen has received further acclaim, including 1st place prizes at the Moscow International Foto Awards and the International Photography Awards, where she also took away Special Photographer of the Year.  Barrier Relief was commended in the Enhanced Category at the 2018 Sony World Photography Awards, and the practitioner has taken part in several group and solo exhibitions: at Berlin Foto Biennale; Griffin Museum of Photography, Massachusetts; Bruno David Gallery, Missouri and Fotomuseo, Bogota. Engaging with an international audience, Jantzen is represented by Susan Spiritus Gallery, California; Qlick Editions, Amsterdam and Bruno David.

Attracting thousands of entries from across the globe, the Aesthetica Art Prize celebrates new and established practitioners working across diverse media, including photography and digital art. The initiative offers artists the opportunity to showcase their work to audiences worldwide, furthering their engagement with the arts landscape through £5000 prize money, an exhibition at York Art Gallery and publication within a widely-read anthology.

The Aesthetica Art Prize is open for entries until 31 August. Find out more here.

See more of Ellen Jantzen’s work here.

Credits:
1. Ellen Jantzen, Unexpected Geology 1, 2018.