Widline Cadet- Seremoni Disparisyon (Ritual [Dis]Appearance)
Widline Cadet is a photographer born in Haiti, and is living in the United States. She explores the ideas related to cultural identity, race, memory and immigration, through her photography, videos, as well as instillations. Before the pandemic, she worked on her MFA at Syracuse University, where she has now graduated from. During the pandemic, Cadet explored the overshadowing absence of interpersonal touch through an alternative intimacy. Silhouetted heads, bridge beams emerging, bushes and stone walls, her images of natural life and popular landscapes, contrasted by the unnatural isolation.
Cadet started taking images of Black people in communion with nature, and this was the beginning of her project called 'Seremoni Disparisyon (Ritual [Dis]Appearance)'.
Cadet started taking images of Black people in communion with nature, and this was the beginning of her project called 'Seremoni Disparisyon (Ritual [Dis]Appearance)'.
“I try to erase time as much as I can,” - Cadet
Cadet, as mentioned, is from Haiti. Haiti is a Carribean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. In 2010, it suffered a earthquake, where a huge mass of damage was caused but luckily landmarks dating to early 19th century remain intact. From finding out about this tragic experience to Haiti, i linked this natural disaster to Cadet's images being very connected with nature, plants, water, grass, which could be a reflection of her cultures and ethnicity's past.
Photoshoot inspired by Widline Cadet
In one of our lessons, we had the opportunity to walk around our school and try to get some pictures, that are in the style inspired by the photographer we have been researching. As mine was Widline Cadet, i knew my images were going to have to be quite naturalistic, of people and quite unique in terms of composition. I found this task a bit harder as i was restricted in the space of school, however it was a good challenge.
I chose two of my favourite images, and slightly edited them on photoshop. I added a more coloured tint onto the image of Caitlin with her hair in her face, which has created, my favourite outcome, as both the vibrant colours and composition of the image reflect Cadet's photography style well as she often uses vibrant, warm colours. The image of Dovile's back to the camera, in the bushes, I also liked, because of the unintentional humour in the image. The tree looks as though it's growing from her body, as the ends of her hair look like the roots. Both of these images are very successful as not only did I manage to represent both Cadet's style go photography, and also mine.
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The other images from the set I took, also were okay, however not my favourite, because I felt they were quite boring and standard. If I could do this task again, I would prefer to take the images out of school, as there are not as many opportunities for ideas in school.
Widline Cadet's exhibition-
Chloe Dewe Mathews
This is her exhibition on her photobook called The Thames Log. Mathews spent 5 years, taking photos up and down the most well known river in the uk, The River Thames. The Thames Log examines the ever changing nature of our relationship with water. She mostly focused on everyday activities that happen along, or in this river, however often go unnoticed. She invites the audience to see things beyond the river, as she photographs religious and secular rituals, ship-spotters, mass baptisms and so on.