"A cluster of light and blossom as delicate as a cloud, the first signs of spring driving ever upwards..."
The beauty of the pieces printed on glass are truly revealed when seen in the flesh, which shimmer in the daylight and change constantly as different light sources are reflected off the print.
Although the prints are editioned each one is unique due to the final stage of gold application by hand.
Valda Bailey work is greatly informed by her background in painting and influences come as much from artists as photographers. Her objective is less about portraying a literal representation but rather conveying feelings evoked by the landscape and she achieves this using multiple exposures and intentional camera movement.
Valda's Southern Song series is part of a larger project that attempts to explore the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi.
One of many dictionary definitions defines it, as "a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay." This doesn't even begin to unravel its complexities; indeed, so intangible are its philosophies that many Japanese scholars will only attempt to illuminate its mysteries through the medium of poetry.
