Loneliness has long been explored and depicted in the art world, from Edward Hopper鈥檚 infamous diner painting Nighthawks (1942) to Gregory Crewdson鈥檚 wintry photographic series Cathedral of the Pines (2013-2014). Solitude is a facet of the human experience, and, in today鈥檚 hyper-digitised climate, it is increasingly recognised as a widespread emotion. Kyle Thompson (b. 1992) produces photographs that depict such feelings. His series are often placed within gloomy Oregon forests. Just like Crewdson and Hopper, location is a key detail. The images are shot within self-consciously empty environments, which allow for an uncomfortable quietude. Amongst the deep green palettes, performative self-portraits further express stillness, silence and distress. Thompson notes: 鈥淢y main recognisable features are obscured, creating an anonymous figure that can feel both impossible to identify, yet easy to relate to.鈥 .
Forms of Recluse
