William LeGoullon – “Marks”

“Deserts are where people strive to make and leave a mark”” – William Fox

Marks examines the interplay between two bodies of work by photographic artist William LeGoullon. His images expand upon an on-going discussion shared between man and the environments often referred to as desert. Yet he challenges the perception of a deserted, unpopulated landscape through his use of symbolism, artifacts, and the documentation of specific narratives paralleling a romanticized persona of the once wild west and that of modern day symmetries in nature and the human experience. In one set of images, he depicts the continually challenged identities of the southwestern landscape and the conscious and unconscious realities of relentless adaptation, and unwavering permanence. In his other series, he hints at a more distinct circumstance – the destructive yet seductively alluring act of shooting a firearm and it’s often harmful impact on the environment. In these photographs William finds beauty in rebirth through the metaphorical reinterpretation of objects as emblems of pleasure and violence. Together, these bodies of work share an undeniable captivation with humanity’s mark making proficiencies and landscape’s ability to reshape and endure.

Man on Dune, William LeGoullon