Being a lifestyle magazine with a theme like ‘change’ makes it hard not to think about the ways that technology has revolutionised the art scene. Whilst amateur Midjourney graphics may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the mix of technology and art, our island’s creatives have been exploring new worlds for years, working with 3D modelling, photoshop and even algorithms trained on their own photography.
To celebrate some of their work, we reached out to three creative islanders embracing technological changes in the art world. Flick through these pages to view a selection of ethereal work that feels like being immersed in a dreamscape.
Will Lakeman
“I’m Will Lakeman, a writer and photographer. I have autism which manifests itself as a special interest in colour, and in sneaking about in lonely places. I am obsessed with trying to explore the intense texture of dreams and am trying to make photographs that resemble those weird, hazy fantasies more closely than they do reality. You’ll be able to see large versions of these images, and loads more, at a show I’ll be doing at CCA Galleries in October this year. Meanwhile, everything I have is for sale. You can follow me on Instagram at @chairmanwill or see my work in higher quality at lakemanphoto.com”
“This is the roof of La Collette flats, photographed with permission from Andium Homes. The more I looked at the beautiful frosted glass the more I wanted to remove the distractions of town. This led to me imagining a completely abandoned tower rising above a mountain range at dawn. I’m not sure how I would have gotten home afterwards, Jersey Lifts maybe.”
“I try to create images where a single scene or object occurs as if it’s in a dream, sometimes in the wrong place. This sign is near the airport and I think about it every time I go past. It would be nice to install one of my photographs in the hole, although I remember it once featuring a sexy mermaid; I doubt I have remembered that accurately.”
“I love the way that the rocks and sand of the west coast change colour according to the time of day. I kept manipulating the image until the colours resembled a strange planet. Sometimes I wonder if I was born there and whether I need to return.”
Emily Paranthoen
Emily Paranthoen, age 24, is a Jersey born and based artist. Graduating with a First Class Degree in Fine Art Painting from the University of Brighton in 2022, she explores themes of science fiction, technology, and the environment through the medium of 3D digital modelling and design. She constructs and explores fictional ecosystems and alternate environments, in-between spaces, and their potential inhabitants, producing otherworldly environments which emerge feeling tangible in their materiality. The digital produces a reflection of our own environment; paying attention to important global issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, and the rise of technology.
The Proteus Trilogy
“I draw a lot of inspiration from the natural environment within my work and often use narrative to discuss important global issues such as climate change and environmental degradation. ‘The Proteus Trilogy’ combines both my fascination with the natural world and my love of science fiction, constructing an otherworldly landscape forced to protect what’s left of its thriving ecosystem from the outside mutations which pose a threat. This was inspired by titles of Paul Huxley’s work ‘Proteus’ and ‘Mutations’ in response to a brief for CCA Gallery’s Art Clash exhibition. The trilogy consists of two macro perspectives of a microsystem referencing shapes and forms from the natural world, and the central image showing us an expanded view of the barren reality of the landscape in which this thriving ecosystem remains.”
Systems of Hybridity
“‘Systems of Hybridity’, also inspired by science fiction, addresses climate change on a planet mirroring our own. Nibiru, the world imagined in this scene, has experienced a mass extinction; driven by the inhabitants finding advancement in the degradation of the planet. Millions of years after this event, nature regains dominance of the land. I was intrigued by how the world would respond if we were removed from it. Would it thrive? And would we even recognise the planet we once lived upon? I wanted to explore the contrasting perspective of the beauty and growth which you see in the works, with the neglectful advancement and destruction which came before it.”
James Thompson
James Thompson is a photographer who became a C4/5 tetraplegic following a fluke skiing accident in 2020. Since his injury, he’s had to adapt how he shoots, using a remote trigger in his mouth to take shots. His photography is emotive, personal and captures each subject in a unique way. Despite difficulties with accessibility, James navigates rocky coastlines and rural areas across Jersey, maintaining his aim of photographing each subject in an environment that complements their individual personality. For James, photography has become a creative lifeline since his accident – bringing him back to himself when times get tough.
“Having worked with Georgi Mottram on a variety of shoots, I wanted to create a shot that encompassed a particular stage of her career: the Enchanted Voices production. I had a vision for something with more of a magical expression. I felt the best way to do this was to take her portrait beneath the centre of the Milky Way, that is visible from Jersey.”
“I wanted to capture a scene of how I feel being out at night under the stars. The calmness of it, how different it is from the busy days and how it still gives me space to be me.”
“The milky way core over La Rocque. Modern cameras are able to absorb more light than our eyes, so can capture the inside of our galaxy brighter than we see. This is what’s there.”
“This shot was part of a wider project that had a mental health theme. The light painting symbolises the parts of a person’s life you can’t see. Their spirit, soul, even demons that they see in front of them.”
“Using a drone to light up Victoria Tower at night, I created a spiral to extend the tower’s presence.”
