People and Life - Artist Statement. Photography by Greig Clifford

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People and Life - Artist Statement

People and Life is currently a catch-all working title for an ongoing collection of photographs made during my everyday travels through life these last few years. Each captured moment sparked a thought about life and the world I live in, leading to the philosophies and contemplations I have written that accompany every image.

For me, the images are largely storytelling in essence, and feature open narratives and subtle metaphor to encourage deeper thinking around intangible human interest themes, such as those regarding society and life in general, or concepts that are more inwardly focused, often connected with the mind, of feelings and emotions.

More specifically, those subjects of the mind include ambition, determination, love, friendship, trust, happiness, stress, worry, time, age and nostalgia. Photographs inspired by more general human interest themes comment on such things as the working life and the society machine, inequality, higher authority, climate change, war, freedom, and how the human presence affects the wider natural world.

Naturally, many themes are interlinked which creates a complexity of thinking. For example, Which Way Hawaii? is not only about a love for one's favourite pastime, but also a reflection of the determination needed to overcome negative personal circumstances that may prevent one from enjoying that pastime to the fullest. It is also a comment on how society level human development can affect the natural landscape, and how this in turn can affect an individual's deeply instinctive needs.

And such is my thinking behind these photographs, the text sometimes introverted, sometimes bolder, occasionally dramatic, but always heartfelt. I do not expect every viewer to read the images the same way. Other more personal interpretations will no doubt hold more meaning. I do hope though, that people will spend time with them.

PEOPLE AND LIFE