On the land an oak will grow

Henry Woide & Vanessa Fairax-Woods

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There is room for fluid worlds, free of time, and linear narrative. Woide and fairfax-woods give viewers the opportunity to reflect on the modern age in which we live. The works of Woide and Fairfax-Woods seduce, oppress, and enchant. The imaginary worlds beg to be discovered by the beholder.

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For the seventh edition of the Series Award hosted by Life Framer, Contour Gallery’s founder and director Muriel Mager had the honor of selecting the 2021 winners. The interaction between the two artists, Henry Woide and Vanessa Fairfax-Woods, provides a new and refreshing view on the medium of photography. Creating surreal worlds and characters that have a familiarity we can’t quite put our finger on.

Woide and Fairfax-Woods both come from different mediums; Woide is a landscape and architecture photographer, Fairfax- Woods is a conceptual and performance photographer. Both artists push the artistic boundaries of their solo work.

On The Land An Oak Will Grow is an escape from the modern world—the speed at which humans live today, consumerism, and politics—and its emphasis on superficiality. Performances in nature distort the natural world around them into an imaginary realm.

Inspired by old English folklore, the artists create their own modern myths and legends. They make visual stories, approached from a sense of humor, darkness, and ethereal beauty.