ALICE ZILBERBERG

Bear With It, 2019

In this series, Zilberberg creates animal montages as an expression of self-therapy, drawing attention to mindfulness and nature conservation. As an urbanite, functioning day-to-day in a fast-paced, built environment can be emotionally unsettling. The artist regrounds herself in the sense of calm issued by these animals. These creatures reinstate a presence, a tranquility, and a grander perspective. Their minimal aesthetic is metaphorical of striving for simplicity. Zilberberg’s works invite a meditative state, encouraging the viewer to stay still and find happiness in the moment.

The works are an amalgam of many photographs from around the world, put together by the artist in post-production. The digital displacement of the animals from their surroundings is representative of their displacement in real life from the wild due to human interference. The animals have a “home” within each image, which, in many cases, no longer exists in the wild. The images are an honoring, a testament to the beauty of nature, and a ground on which to reflect on the interaction between humans and the natural world.