Walls - Elliott Wilcox

Walls explores the complex relationship between interior and exterior space. The conjunction of contemporary society and the artificial landscape summons a disquieting of reality, hyper-reality, fantasy and fiction. These unvarnished, unpremeditated large format photographs of empty climbing walls, absent of the expected human activity, become estranged from their purpose. The viewer is forced to solve a problem. However, rather than evoke a contradictory relationship between two worlds, the strength of this work arises from the silent dialogue established between them.

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Exploring the distinctions between object and representation within constructed leisure space, Wilcox's images deploy the metaphor of de-familiarisation between man and nature to suggest a place that is constructed in its own reality. The current society seems obsessed with bringing the exterior interior. The home cinema, the all in one gymnasium, the inner city ski slope or beach experience. Reality has been replaced with a construction of environment. The human experience can be seen as a simulation of reality.

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

Walls © 2011 Elliott Wilcox

More images from Elliott Wilcox's Walls series can be found in prism #02


Elliott Wilcox is a London based, British photographer who recently graduated from the University of Westminster, MA Photographic Studies program. He has been the recipient of several awards including a Judges Award at the Nikon Discovery Awards and a New York Photo Award. Elliott recently won a prestigious Lucie Award for the Discovery of the Year at the International Photography Awards.
Elliott has exhibited internationally and in the UK, his first major series 'Courts' was part of the show ‘PRUNE – Abstracting Reality’ at FOAM Gallery Amsterdam with guest curator Kathy Ryan, editor of the New York Times Magazine. Wilcox was also part of the BBC’s documentary series – School of Saatchi. His art work beat thousands of emerging art talents to the top ten artists involved in the show.
Wilcox's first major series 'Courts' was shown at the Bau-Xi Photo Gallery Toronto, Canada in January 2011 and the dnj Gallery Los Angeles, USA in April 2011.

Elliott hopes to continue developing his photographic practice and pushing the boundaries of his medium. He is currently working on his next major series.