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Samoylova, whose work is currently on display at both teh Met Museum in New York and the Saatchi Gallery in London, has garnered critical acclaim for her subtle, anxiety-inducing images of Florida’s collapsing pastel-pink landscapes. Her 2019 series “Flood Zone” — a nod to the unnervingly bureaucratic label that can often dictate life or death — is a surreal chronicle of an area decaying in real time.
Cracked bubblegum-colored concrete, flooded swimming pools, uprooted palm trees and displaced alligators paint a new, unnerving picture of the climate crisis. Samoylova’s images are a far cry from the visual language of starving polar bears and blazing wildfires that often saturate coverage around the environment. “everything is intertwined,” she said. “That’s why I think isolating climate change as something detached and abstract,and visually associated with melting ice caps,is very perilous because we’re in the moment right now. Every political decision is going to affect us on this daily basis.”
Samoylova moved to Florida in 2016,where she was struck by the state’s severe weather events and aging infrastructure. She immediately began to document her new surroundings. Almost eight years on, “Flood Zone” feels more relevant than ever in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the category 3 storm that killed more than a dozen and left more than 2.6 million Floridians without power.Milton was the third hurricane in 2024 to make landfall in the state. But Samoylova doesn’t call herself an environmental photographer. “I’m averse to labels,” she said. “I live in Miami and the choice of medium itself,to me,comes with the responsibility to reflect on our time. Otherwise, why photograph?”
The insidious, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it approach to her observational photography is intentional. Several years of capturing political extremism, gentrification and environmental disintegration has given Samoylova time to think about how to package disastrous messaging. “How do you communicate these very complex subjects and make them relatable?” she asks. “The trickiest part is to not make them off-putting.” Come for the pink sidewalks that characterize the streets of Miami — as many tourists do — and stay for the subsequent feelings of existential dread. It’s a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, she says. “(Climate change) is stigmatized, and it’s become divisive, at least where I live in the US, especially in Florida. And who knows,it’s likely going to be erased from the conversation again.”
But beyond providing a record of Florida in crisis, there’s also a dark poetry to her work — and plenty of space for creative interpretation. samoylova’s favorite pastime is haunting her own gallery installations, parking herself on a viewing bench or floating between visitors like a “ghost,” and tuning in to how people are reading her pictures. “It’s the best feeling,” she said, “Leaving the work open enough to where people can discuss it on their own terms without supplying too much of a didactic narrative.”
One image in particular is ripe for analysis. in “Gator” (2017), an alligator floats above the viewer, suspended in murky, acerbic green water. While Samoylova took the photo at a nature reserve, holding the lens close to the gator’s tank, there’s no real context to the animal’s surroundings. It might very well be anywhere — swimming thru a flooded street or lying in wait beneath the surface of a flooded pool. “It’s an allegory,” said Samoylova. “As they really do end up in people’s pools like that,” she said, adding that it felt like barely a month went by without a report of an alligator attack. “But these beasts have been here forever. It’s their native habitat, so we are the ones encroaching, not them.”
Samoylova sees something “Ballardian” in the alligator photo, which she also chose to front her business card, particularly in relation to the British author J. G. Ballard’s 1962 dystopian novel “the Drowned World” which depicts a post-apocalyptic Earth consumed by water. “(The alligator) is kind of ascending over you, and you’re already on
Her next project, titled “Transformations,” explores that sentiment — focusing primarily on capturing the many climate solutions already being implemented across the globe. Anything counts: From solar panels and green roofing to urban gardens and corporate initiatives.
What themes does Anastasia Samoylova explore in her photography to raise awareness about climate change?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Anastasia Samoylova, Artist and Photographer
Time.news Editor: Good morning, Anastasia! Thank you for joining us today. Your work has been making waves across some of the most prestigious galleries in the world. Let’s start with your current exhibitions at the Met Museum in New York and Saatchi Gallery in London. What has it been like to have your photographs showcased in such iconic venues?
anastasia Samoylova: Good morning! It’s truly an honor to have my work displayed in places that have such a rich history of art. It’s both exciting and humbling, especially knowing that my images are part of an ongoing conversation about climate change.My hope is that they provoke thought and spark discussions among viewers from all walks of life.
Time.news Editor: You’ve been critically acclaimed for your series titled “Flood Zone.” Could you tell us what inspired this series and the message you are trying to convey through these images?
Anastasia Samoylova: When I moved to Florida in 2016, I was immediately struck by the gorgeous yet fragile landscapes affected by severe weather and aging infrastructure. ”Flood Zone” began as a response to those realities, depicting the surreal degradation in our environment. I wanted to create a visual narrative that brings attention to how climate change is not just a distant issue; it’s happening here and now. Our everyday lives are intricately intertwined with these crises, and recognizing that connection is vital.
Time.news Editor: Absolutely.Your images, like cracked pastel-pink concrete and flooded swimming pools, present a stark contrast to the more typical visual narratives surrounding climate change. Why do you think it’s critically important to avoid the conventional portrayals we frequently enough see, such as starving polar bears or wildfires?
Anastasia Samoylova: I believe that isolating climate change in such abstract terms can be perilous.It creates a disconnect between peopel and the immediate impacts of these issues. By using familiar colors and forms that evoke a sense of nostalgia, I aim to ground these conversations in our daily reality. People relate to their own surroundings, and my work seeks to highlight the beauty and fragility of the environments we inhabit.
Time.news Editor: That’s a interesting approach.You mentioned that you’re averse to labels such as “environmental photographer.” Could you delve into that a bit more?
Anastasia Samoylova: Sure! While the themes in my work frequently enough touch on environmental concerns, I prefer not to be pigeonholed. I see myself as an artist reflecting on the complexities of our time—climate change is just one aspect. Photography itself is a medium that can hold many truths, and I’m interested in exploring various dimensions of life and existence through it. Otherwise, why bother creating images at all?
Time.news Editor: that makes a lot of sense. You also spoke about Hurricane Milton and its impact on Florida. How does the recent increase in extreme weather events influence your work and your perspective?
Anastasia Samoylova: Each extreme weather event has a profound effect; it deepens my understanding of the urgency surrounding climate issues. Such as, with Hurricane Milton leaving millions without power and devastating communities, I feel the weight of responsibility to document these moments authentically. It’s a stark reminder that we’re living in a time of precarity, and each political decision influences our daily lives in ways we often don’t fully grasp.
Time.news Editor: It’s clear your work is deeply informed by current events. As an artist engaging with such complex themes, what do you hope audiences take away from your exhibitions?
Anastasia Samoylova: I hope viewers leave with a sense of awareness and urgency. My ultimate goal is for them to recognize that the climate crisis is not merely a distant worry—it’s happening in their own backyards. through the lens of my art, I want to encourage them to reflect on their relationship with the environment and consider the roles they can play in creating a more lasting future.
Time.news Editor: Beautifully put, Anastasia.Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us. Your work is not only beautiful but also incredibly powerful in its message. We look forward to seeing how your art continues to evolve and inspire change.
Anastasia Samoylova: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure to discuss my work with you. I hope to keep the conversation going through art and beyond.