Natalie Seymour

“We live now, though we might say that we have always lived, in a time of ruination.” Brian Dillon.

 

Ruins and decay have captivated people for centuries, whether they are the remains of a once glorious cathedral or the burnt shell of a manor house, ruins contain a mysterious allure that is often difficult to pin down. The story of destruction often features in many historical accounts of ruined structures, whether it is manmade or a natural disaster. The prominent modern day issue appears to be the economic downturn and shifting social changes that have resulted in many old buildings becoming obsolete. They are visual reminders of a failed past, one of former industrial prosperity in cities such as Coventry for example that suffered after the death of the car manufacturing industry. They stand as monuments to another era, one that has left them as dilapidated time capsules awaiting discovery. Provoked by the stillness of a room left in disarray, you can find a strange peace in the chaos. We are perhaps drawn to abandoned sites due to our need to escape from a world which is so crazy and fast paced that we find solace in somewhere that seems frozen in time.

 

My work captures buildings in a state of dereliction and shows the confusing nature of exploring abandoned places where one decaying element often blurs into the next. I experiment digitally with a painterly aesthetic and collage elements from my photographic documentation to build each composition. I aim to capture the essence of these places before they disappear.