photograph by David Wright

Despite concretely being seascapes, there’s a powerful strain of kind of figurative abstraction in the use of the sky, particular as the lines and weight of the clouds are offset or underpinned by the movement of the sea. This idea is, I think, reinforced by the sequencing of the images that you’ve set, wherein they at first might not seem rhythmic, but subtly move toward a point of high drama in the final image. What were some of your inspirations for making these images? Did you look at any JMW Turner?

I had to look up JMW Turner’s work after reading your question. His work is very beautiful. When making these photographs I had in my mind less specific artists and more so thoughts, memories, and feelings: hope, faith, abandonment, loss, love, depression, anger, sadness, warmth, cold, beginnings, endings, the past, present, and future.

After making these photographs, I attended a meditation retreat where you sit in silence for 10 days. I experienced vast highs and lows during this time. A central idea of the retreat is the idea of each day being the same while different in it’s own way. I wanted these photographs to have this feeling.

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The text above is taken from an interview of David Wright by Stanley at the Great Leap Sideways. To see the entire Sky Above, Sea Below series visit David’s website . The work can be viewed in person and purchased at Asymmetrick Arts in Rockland.