I have been photographing the inner city suburbs of Perth, Western Australia for around seven years. I’m drawn to the built environment of my everyday surroundings — housing, commercial spaces, empty lots, overgrown foliage — and the idea of separateness being experienced in a study of suburban space is an ongoing exploration in my work.
For some, my images offer up a nostalgic familiarity experienced within the ordinary landscape, a setting that may invoke a sense of connection or belonging. I personally tend to focus on the elements that reinforce separateness, a mood that is heightened in my night photography. This is underpinned by components in the frame such as brightly lit but firmly closed blinds; shielding or spiky foliage, or empty space found in pockets of the built environment. I use rich palettes to exaggerate a sense of comfort and warmth, while what is on view in the frame is closed, unknown; with no people in sight, reflecting an imagined unease or isolation experienced within.
Astrid can be found on Instagram or head over to Big Cartel for a copy of her zine No Escape from the Private Life.
