Lithics

Lithics is an exploration into the prehistoric origins of human behaviour. Blending historical research with artistic interpretation, the work seeks traces of our shared humanity in landscapes once inhabited by Neanderthals.

Traveling through caves and quarries, forests and valleys across Europe, Lithics seeks traces of the beginnings of humanity in landscapes once inhabited by Neanderthals.

Central to the work is the human awareness of mortality. An awareness that shapes how we live, think, and act. It manifests in our desire to transcend death through art, culture, and reshaping the world around us. In these acts, we leave traces where our inner struggles become both visible and tangible. Our will to understand who and what we are drives our curiosity towards the world, fosters a will to explore unknown territories, makes us feel alive. But it also amplifies feelings of isolation and existential angst.

To explore these abstract ideas and ground them in a visual form, Lithics adopts a speculative documentary approach, blending historical research with artistic interpretation. Visually, archaeological sites and remains combine with their contemporary surroundings, forming a bridge between past and present. A variety of motifs emerge: landscapes, artifacts, and everyday finds create narratives that highlight both the scientific significance and emotional resonance of these traces.

The images tend to invite questions rather than offering answers, leaning into their poetic potential and encouraging introspection over the transport of information. The project naturally probes the boundaries between fact and fiction, a consequence of its engagement with the ancient past, allowing for more freedom in the expression of its ideas and the choice of motifs.

Lithics examines our search for meaning and encourages reflection on those moments when we confront our own smallness.