Anastasia Samoylova
Anastasia Samoylova (US, 1984) is a Russian-born American artist. Upon relocating to the United States in 2008 and precisely Miami, Florida, in 2016, the artist pursued observational photographic practice, leading to her first monograph FloodZone (Steidl, 2019), which formed a study on the visualization of environmental threats posed by flood-risked communities in Miami and beyond. In her Floridas (Steidl, 2022), she gestures toward the state of Florida itself, forming a kaleidoscopic and contradictory portrait of how the state’s unique cultural and political psyche manifests in visual form.
Recent exhibitions include C/O Berlin, Fundación Mapfre, Eastman Museum, Chrysler Museum of Art, The Photographers’ Gallery, and Kunst Haus Wien. In 2022, Anastasia Samoylova was shortlisted for the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize. Her work is in the collections of the Perez Art Museum, Miami; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; and Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago.
Project
Transformations
“Climate change is the defining issue of our time. It is forcing us to adapt and innovate. In this new project, Transformations, I will document stories of climate adaptation in key locations across the globe. I will focus on altered landscapes, new green industries, climate-resilient architecture, and the people behind these transformative innovations.”
Building upon Anastasia Samoylova previous long-term projects, Transformations will address the challenges and victories in the climate movement in a way that is both poetic and informative while offering a unique and enlightening perspective on this urgent topic. Throughout the last 15 years, her work has addressed how the places we inhabit shape our understanding of the world and our position to effect change. The artist’s approach expands on the documentary tradition.
Anastasia Samoylova refrains from making didactic statements while relying on thoroughly researched lists of subjects that she aims to depict in a more open way. Transformations has been inspired by the concept of 'climatopias', the subject of research by environmental scientist Alizé Carrère who defines them as 'architectural works that meet social, political and spatial criteria for just, inclusive and resilient urban futures.'
In the face of overwhelming climate data and distressing images in the media, it is easy to succumb to feelings of helplessness. By highlighting progress, no matter how small, Anastasia Samoylova aims to shift the narrative from despair to one of collaborative resilience. Transformations will bring the stories of climate hope and progress to the forefront, ensuring they become catalysts for positive change.