Leah Oates

Transitory Space (Sky Blue Tree 23 Blue, Prospect Park Brooklyn)

2015

Archival pigment print

17" x 22" edition of 7 + 2 AP $1,400 unframed 24" x 36" edition of 7 + 2 AP $2,800 unframed Combining the documentary style of my previous climate project, The Witness Tree, with my earlier narrative fictional approach, I photograph paper cutouts (from appropriated online images) of climate-threatened birds. I place the cutouts within the birds’ current habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—the gaze within the gaze upon nature—as actual birds recede into marginal zones of survival. The images are meant to disrupt the casual gaze, disarming the expectations of nature photography, leaving viewers disturbed and curious. Divergence of Birds (2017-current) A large-scale, long-term, multimedia conceptual project about the threat of species extinction on birds in North America . My current climate project, Divergence of Birds, takes inspiration from two texts: The Audubon Society’s “Birds and Climate Change Report” which projects that, by 2080, climate change will affect the range of habitat of over half of North American birds; and Phillip K. Dick’s 1968 novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” where electric versions of once-commonplace animals are so realistic that they fool even veterinarians. Divergence of Birds addresses the prospect that, one day, only simulacra of climate-impacted animals will be left. Combining the documentary style of my previous climate project, The Witness Tree, with my earlier narrative fictional approach, I’m photographing paper cutouts (from appropriated online photos) of the nearly 400 climate-threatened birds. I place the cutouts within the birds’ current habitats so that they look real, but upon inspection, reveal themselves to be photos within photos—the gaze within the gaze upon nature—as actual birds recede into marginal zones of survival. The images disrupt the casual gaze, disarming expectations of nature photography leaving viewers disturbed and questioning. Audiences will then be invited, through interactive workshops, to participate in climate activism. The full project when completed will include over 400 photos representing the climate-threatened birds, video, soundscape, "memento mori" images in vintage photo cases...

This fine art print features “Sunset by the Allahverdi Khan Bridge,” popularly known as Si-o-se-pol, the largest of the eleven historical bridges on the river Zayanderud, in the Iran...

This fine art print features “Sunset by the Allahverdi Khan Bridge,” popularly known as Si-o-se-pol, the largest of the eleven historical bridges on the river Zayanderud, in the Iran...