Renowned for his collaborative photography endeavors such as Invisible Jumpers, Joseph Ford delves into themes of perception and intervention. His ongoing project, Impossible Street Art, calls on artists like Antonyo Marest, Alex Senna, and MadC to envision their creations within monumental landscapes using a touch of illusion. These artists craft trompe-l’œil interventions on Ford’s photographs, which he then captures on an easel placed in front of the corresponding location, offering a glimpse of how these expansive artworks might appear in their natural setting.
“These new pieces primarily investigate infrastructure, focusing on massive concrete structures like nuclear power plants, dams, and fossil fuel stations,” Ford explains. The sites often relate to the energy production industry, including hydropower systems and logistical setups associated with highways and ports.
For instance, the nuclear power facility “painted” by Skirl is located within a vast nature reserve on England’s east coast, near the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape. Despite significant local opposition, a new plant is currently being constructed.
“These sites are publicly visible and dominate their environments with their immense scale, yet they often remain inaccessible. They are imposed upon us—it’s impossible not to notice them—but engaging with them, using them, or even approaching them is often out of reach.” By overlaying street art on these otherwise unreachable locations, Ford and the contributing artists seek to reclaim and interact with these imposing structures and the concept of energy production, as Ford states.
Discover more on Ford’s Instagram.
