Courtesy of the Artist Copyright Matthew Arthur Williams
Matthew has photographed himself at various locations on the West coast of Scotland including the Isle of Eigg. Williams references a long history of portraits in the landscape, specifically the photographers Ajamu X and Ingrid Pollard.
Black and white self portraits convey Williams’ body embraced by bracken as they become part of the Scottish landscape. The portraits embody a refusal to be seen only as tourist. Bodies become vessels to alter narratives of what it means for Black and queer bodies to inhabit certain rural environments. Williams describes the process of making the photographs as a series of returns, “I’m always asking what’s going on here?  It’s about carrying those thoughts with you wherever you go and trying to manifest it in other things.” matthewarthurwilliams.com

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