Robert May: Reflections in the Time of Crisis
“We live in unstable and uncertain times, experiencing crises both new and old, some of which have been present all our lives. These works, selected with our current struggles in mind, display familiar emotions: loneliness, anger, fear, anxiety, bliss.”
—Robert May
Settler’s Postcard (2020)
“In the U.S., the beautiful landscape comes at a terrible price.”
Heresy of the Palm (2020)
“Images can be deceiving. What do you believe in? How can you know that you’re right?”
ETA (2019)
“This piece is named for the constant struggle between anxiety and patience that arises during introspection. Looking inward often brings us face to face with aspects of our being that disturb or frighten us, which gives rise to the fight or flight reaction. I often find myself waiting for a way to escape this feeling of being trapped in a knowable existence, in an identifiable ‘self,’ wondering how long it will be until I am able to enjoy true rest.”
The Return (2020)
“Keep each other safe until the return.”
Spitting in the face of God (2019)
“According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a human should be able to fly.”
Range (2020)
Illiterate (2019)
Longing (2020)
HDPE Frosty (2016)
“This shot, taken late December in Honolulu, features a metal structure meant to evoke the image of a coniferous Christmas tree. ‘HDPE Frosty’ refers to the contradicting nature of imperial western culture imposed on sovereign native nations, in this case, the existence of plastic snowmen (manufactured out of High-Density Polyethylene) in a region of the world that rarely (if ever) sees snow.”
Robert May is a filmmaker, photographer, and student of cinema in San Francisco, California. Originally regarding photography as more of a hobby than an art, May gained a new appreciation for the medium after experimenting with celluloid film. The inherent fallibility of film stock nearly guarantees what one would consider imperfection in the final product, a quality which inspires May to create without being overly critical of forces that are outside of his control. More of his photography can be found on Instagram (@when_do_we_riot).