ETERNAL CONQUEST:​ ​the​ ​human invasion​ ​of​ ​landscape

© Marcelle Bradbeer - Cobar Open-Cut Mine, 2017NSW, AustraliaShot on Hasselblad 500CMPortra 400 Film © Marcelle Bradbeer - Murray Sunset- National Park, 2017VIC, Australia © Marcelle Bradbeer - Serpentine Lookout (Death Valley National Park), 2020CA, U.S.A View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2017 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Topics Landscape, Contemporary Issues
  • Locations Australia, United States, Iceland, Norway
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Marcelle Bradbeer's​ “ETERNAL CONQUEST:​ ​the​ ​human invasion​ ​of​ ​landscape” depicts our species’ incessant need to inhabit and occupy space. As a landscape photographer this occupied space consequently is the natural landscape - its sublime and pristine otherness invaded by man-made artefacts.

Marcelle Bradbeer's ongoing project​ “ETERNAL CONQUEST:​ ​the​ ​human invasion​ ​of​ ​landscape” depicts our species’ incessant need to inhabit and occupy space. As a landscape photographer this occupied space consequently is the natural landscape - its sublime and pristine otherness invaded by man-made artefacts.

By​ ​focussing​ ​on the​ ​human​ ​element​ ​in​ ​nature,​ Bradbeer is ​questioning​ ​the​ ​existence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pristine​ ​environment​ and diverting​ ​the​ ​viewer’s​ ​gaze​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​conventional​ ​aesthetics​ ​of​ ​landscape​ ​photography towards​ ​the​ ​reality​ ​of​ ​contemporary​​ ​landscape​ ​altered​ ​by​ ​human​ ​impact. This invasion of natural space​ ​represents the human need to conquer - our suffocating tendency to leave nothing untouched and mark our territory.

Bradbeer utilise​s ​a landscape’s​ ​innate​ ​beauty​ ​to​ ​illustrate​ ​the​ ​relationship​ ​between​ ​humans​ ​and​ ​nature​ ​and​ ​entice​ ​the viewer​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​with​ ​the​ ​work’s​ ​narrative. Her use of vivid​ ​colour​ ​and​ ​delicate​ ​composition depict​s ​scenes​ ​of​ ​tranquility that at first glance might be mistaken as 'just a pretty picture' - an intended outward show of innocence that disguises its true meaning and critiquing essence in the subtext and challenges the viewer (in a gentle, subtle way) to look more closely.

Photography is a crucial tool for visually portraying the environmental issues at the forefront of our minds. Particularly in the current climate crisis it is easy for one to feel overwhelmed and powerless. This is where art plays a fundamental role in society - it communicates when words fail, non-verbally questions and critiques behaviours and policies and allows individual voices to be heard.