Flourish is Characterising the Seaside
Make it stand out
During these troubling, uncertain times, many of us have consequently felt isolated and at times lonely, desperately seeking even the smallest dose of positivity, excitement, to even just the thought of returning to a normal life. However, the most difficult part for me personally was the limbo of lockdown; feeling a sense of hopelessness and the consistent boredom of pure nothingness. It was at that moment I knew I needed change, something to look forward to and to channel all this built up energy into.
I live by the seaside, so I found myself going to the beach a lot, reflecting and trying to find a way I could get back into photography, once the restrictions allowed it. I wanted to create a character inspired by the seaside, whilst still representing my own experiences through lockdown. The beach and cliffs seemed like the ideal place to embody the notion of solitude, especially during the pandemic with its more muted, subtle tones.
This contrasted perfectly to the bold, brash colours of Maddy Rara’s designs, depicting the accumulation of stimulating concepts that kept the negativity at bay. The garments further enforced this with their abstract, chaotic, yet undeniably enticing shades, textures and shapes. This was also brought to life by the amazing talents of Fallon Havanna (Select Models), Jack Baker and Taylor Smith, encapsulating everything I could’ve asked for. On reflection, I felt this project was the perfect opportunity for not just me but for all of us as creatives to help find solace and purpose again in our creative endeavours, giving us something to ultimately look forward to once lockdown finally relaxed. Creating these ideas are what kept me going, and this series exhibits how they’ve now finally been set free.
Photographer & Creative Director: Ben Mitchell | Models: Fallon Havanna represented by Select Models | Hair Stylist: Jack Baker | Make up and Hair: Taylor Phillips | Featured Designers: Maddy Rara Designer of garments in pieces 1-22.
