Nature has always been a place of refuge to me, where I feel connected to my surroundings. Alone and outside, I am fully aware of my sensations instead of having rushing thoughts. I pay attention to what I see and how this makes me feel. Details appear to be enlarged, movement hypnotises, and light transforms a scene. To me this is magic. Nature shows there is not one simple reality. Beyond what all of us see, there is the intimate world of feelings hidden in ourselves. In my images, I show my hidden world to touch that of others. Everything around us radiates energy that we all experience in our own way. Whether it is threat, chaos, tranquility or something hard to put into words. Magical moments and the elusive essence of nature are the source of inspiration for this project. Secret Garden uses nature as a mirror for the image of a strong woman. The woman who discovers herself, grows and is connected yet free. It shows the world of the archetypical goddess of nature.

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About
Michelle Blancke (1984) is a photographer and student at the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam. The themes she engages with are identity, spirituality, autonomy and intimacy. Using her camera, she looks for elusive energy. She carefully shows the essence and special force of - every day - things as she sees it. The subject comes close but retains its own integrity and autonomy. In her work, one can feel there is more outside of the limits of the image. She identifies with the notions of Romance about the sublime in nature but also with the focus on archetypes, spirituality and the inner world of female Surrealists.