THOMAS MOORE

“Unlike a lot of people, I left my familiar surroundings during lockdown, as I had arranged to move into a new flat.  This was especially difficult due to the circumstances. I couldn’t arrange things as easily as before and found myself with many objects not where they needed to be. Approaching a series about the familiar in an unfamiliar space was refreshing. I shoot on black and white film primarily, so the random colour around me wasn’t an issue. I just had to try and make my surroundings familiar using light and shadow. 

I became able to in time when light would come in through a window and stretch a certain way. Observe how the clutter formed angles leading the eye. Reflections in mirrors and glass made things seem as though they’d always been there.

In the communal garden, it was like time stood still. The swing stayed tied to the tree, water droplets hung from an unused washing line, and tools gathered dust. The absence of activity and the quiet made me truly appreciate stillness. On many days the only sound came from nearby wind chimes and bees gathering pollen.

The unfamiliar feels much more familiar now.”

JUNE 2020