Interview
Anne Mason-Hoerter
Anne Mason-Hoerter, a Canadian photographer, residing in Munich, delves into the intriguing effects of time on our memory. Her unique approach involves capturing images of botanical or food items over a specific time period, resulting in a multitude of individual photos. She then weaves these images together, weeks later, recreating the subject solely from her memory.
Anne's reliance on her recollection to convey the unique essence of the food or botanical item that has stayed with her over time is a fascinating journey into the human mind. While studying photography at the Ontario College of Art, Anne was drawn to extreme photographic manipulation techniques at an early stage. Still today, she continues to explore unconventional ways to present food and botanical subject matter. Her work has been described as blurring the line between reality and surrealism. Anne's distinctive vision in photography has not gone unnoticed. Her work has been exhibited in prestigious venues worldwide, earning her acclaim and awards. Her international recognition is further underscored by her being honored twice with the Award of Merit from the Canadian AIDS Society for her significant contribution to fundraising through her art.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I studied photography at the Ontario College of Art and came from a family where the scientific aspects of botany and an interest in the protection and conservation of the environment were significant topics. Our garden was vast, teeming with diverse plants and trees designed by my grandfather, who was an agronomist. The different forms of growth, dynamic movements, and how they transformed after succumbing to environmental challenges constantly fascinated me. My memories of this place remain deep but continually shift in their impact and emotion, which drew me into my interest in how memory is distorted through time, particularly how we perceive and remember the environment, which became a significant study area. This concept has become a crucial aspect of my photography work, influencing how I capture and interpret the ever-changing natural world.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My body of work involves reconstructing plants affected by climate change based on my childhood memories of seeing those plants in my home environment. In my process, I am seeking to recreate the intricate details of plants, challenging my memory of them. This raises the question of whether our memory will become more crucial as climate change leads to increased plant species extinction. If so, will our memories be accurate? This potential role of memory in preserving plant species underscores the importance of each individual's contribution to addressing climate change.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“My technical skills have evolved through realising my artistic vision. To achieve this in my studio, I first had to deconstruct the plant and then reconstruct it on my computer. Over time, I discovered that the larger the components, the more surreal and captivating the images became while still showcasing the unique beauty of the plant. My interest in the memory retrieval process, where a person has to piece together the information bit by bit to create a recollection, along with emotional and stress factors, has shaped my artistic vision.”
“My body of work involves reconstructing plants affected by climate change based on my childhood memories of seeing those plants in my home environment.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“First, I meticulously dismantled the plants and photographed their various parts under different lighting conditions for several days. Later, after a number of weeks, I reassembled the hundreds of images, relying solely on my memory.”
What does your art mean to you?
“A way of exploring and expressing.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“My favourite art worked is 'Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X' by Francis Bacon because of subject matter, movement and violence.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“The most recent exhibitions include: Prix De La Photographie - Gallery 24b, Paris, France; PinkLady Food Photographer 2024 - Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, England; The Professional Association of Freelance Photographers and Film Creators Annual Exhibition 2024 - Play; Studio 3, Hamburg, Germany; BBA Gallery One-Shot Award 2024 - BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany and 212 Photography Istanbul 2023 - Istanbul, Turkey.”
Website: www.aine-photography.com
Instagram: @annhoerter
