1/1: Whisper
'Whisper' is part of 'The Wild Within', a project that breathes new life into abandoned and historic buildings by blending photography with animation to create surreal, meditative, and dynamic architectural spaces.
The building depicted is an ancient structure nestled in the mountains of Armenia. Constructed from volcanic rock in the 10th century, it was once a monastery and remains one of Armenia's oldest, with a construction period spanning over 300 years.
For 'The Wild Within', artists Ryan Koopmans and Alice Wexell spent several years traveling the world, exploring and photographing forsaken buildings and unique architectural sites. They were drawn to these locations for their distinct historical, cultural, and architectural significance. From ancient temples in the mountains of Georgia to elaborate abandoned theatres in the Middle East, the artists ventured to remote and often challenging environments to discover extraordinary and overlooked locations for their creative process.
Once the architecture is photographed, the images are modelled into virtual environments, and overgrown plant life is digitally introduced. The lighting and structure are carefully modified, a custom musical composition is added, and the photograph is transformed into a seamlessly looping moving image.
Additionally, the piece features an original score by composer Karl-David Larson.
The artists aim to revive these vacant spaces, bringing life back into the buildings. Their goal is to transport viewers to an alternate place and time, creating a surreal collision between past and future, and merging physical and digital worlds.
Conceptually, the theme of preservation is heightened by the fact that some of the buildings depicted have been demolished or continue to deteriorate, underscoring the passage of time and the cycle of growth and decay.
By combining real photography with the imaginative potential of animation, the result is a body of work that is both captivating and meditative.