Ecological Self

Ecological Self is an investigation of the relationship between mankind and his environment, taking Norwegian philosopher’s Arne Naess’ study of Deep Ecology as a point of departure. Naess’ philosophy adopts a holistic understanding of the richness and diversity of the ecosystem and its inherent interconnectedness. Central to his belief is the concept of transcending an “egoic” self to attaining an “ecological self” through self-actualisation, where people ultimately experience certain environments as integrated parts of their self-identity rather than detached entities. As such, environmental changes are likely to trigger changes in the self. As a follow up to Red Note (2013) & Red Note - Part II (2015), this series focuses on abandoned items salvaged during my visits to homes which have been demolished. Most of these are personal possessions encapsulating their past owners’ memories and identity. Cast aside during a period of major life transition, they bring to mind the process of ecdysis in reptiles, where old skin is molted to make room for growth. Can drastic alterations in living spaces lead to a discontinuity in one’s identity? Imagining who these individuals were and how they lived, I posed these objects against landscapes in Pengerang which I felt were most representative and symbolic of their owners’ identities, committing one final portrait of their absence and presence to memory.