Having been collaborators since the ‘80s where the two met at the Institute of Design in Chicago, Barbara Ciurej & Lindsay Lochman have since produced a number of bodies of work together, with our most favorite being the captivating series Processed Views: Surveying the Industrial Landscape. Referencing landscape photographs from Carleton Watkins (1829-1916) and using various food products, the two recontextualize the photographer’s images creating their own to address consumption, progress and the changing landscape.
Said best in their own words, “Processed Views interprets the frontier of industrial food production: the seductive and alarming intersection of nature and technology. As we move further away from the sources of our food, we head into uncharted territory replete with unintended consequences for the environment and for our health.” Explaining further the artists say, “In our commentary on the landscape of processed foods, we reference the work of photographer, Carleton Watkins (1829-1916). His sublime views framed the American West as a land of endless possibilities and significantly influenced the creation of the first national parks. However, many of Watkins' photographs were commissioned by the corporate interests of the day; the railroad, mining, lumber and milling companies. His commissions served as both documentation of and advertisement for the American West. Watkins' images upheld the popular 19th century notion of Manifest Destiny – America's bountiful land, inevitably and justifiably utilized by its citizens.
There is sa et of 10, limited run, 6 x 7.5 inch postcards currently available here
