The Young Earth follows two Americans in their twenties, one of them terminally ill, as they explore idyllic and remote corners of Iceland. Immersing themselves into foreign and wild landscapes, they are forced to confront their own mortality and a past love triangle that briefly disrupted their friendship.
One man, leaving behind the ones he loves, faces his impending death and questions about an afterlife, while the other contemplates an uncertain future and loneliness without his best friend. The Young Earth explores how two men attempt to find courage and serenity in the face of oncoming tragedy. The landscape images in the series capture the expansiveness of Iceland’s geography. At the same time, Iceland serves as a literal and metaphorical example of the young earth – it is one of the youngest geological formations on the planet, and also the testing ground for these young men to find themselves.
Juxtaposed with these images are voyeuristic portraits depicting moments of indecision, anxiety, wonder, and reflection. The landscapes and portraits act as mirrors of one another, reflecting the history and inner lives of both subjects. The Young Earth gives the viewer the sense of wandering through the private and shared memories of its characters. The Young Earth is a meditation on death, the end of youth, and the beauty and complications that come with love and friendship.
The Young Earth suit deux américains qui ont la vingtaine, l’un d’eux en phase terminale, tandis qu’ils explorent des coins idylliques et reculés de l’Islande. S’immergeant dans des paysages étrangers et sauvages, ils sont obligés de confronter leur propre mortalité et un triangle amoureux passé qui a brièvement dérangé leur amitié.
PAST EXHIBITION
Jordan Sullivan
The Young Earth & An Island in The Moon
6 November – 7 December
Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art
@ Site 109
109 Norfolk St (off of Rivington, on the Lower East Side)
NY NY 10002
http://www.phhfineart.com
