'Radiation' is drawn from a recent and ongoing series of photographs of the sun, alongside abstract images made in the darkroom intended to evoke celestial bodies, exploring spaces between the real and imagined.

Given it is their primary source of light, photographers almost always consider the sun. Yet they seldom directly photograph it as a subject. Sun gazing is sometimes enacted as part of spiritual or religious practices, or as an alternative therapy, most often near dawn or dusk. However, it is considered extremely dangerous, and impossible to look at the sun for any length of time without damaging one ’s vision or going blind.

A suite of photographic prints from the series was recently exhibited in Staring into the Sun at Skar Image Lab in Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the 2023 Auckland Festival of Photography.

'Radiation' began as a handmade RA - 4 colour print produced using experimental darkroom techniques, and was recast as site - specific lightbox installation for the LUMA Festival in Tāhuna Queenstown in June 2023. The glowing orange orb appears to expand beyond the frame and may suggest a celestial body radiating energy and light.

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