Um·welt (oomvelt)
noun: Umwelt
(in ethology) the world as it is experienced by a particular organism.

Carol Kaesuk Yoon describes Umwelt as “the perceived world, the world sensed by an animal, fueled by its particular sensory and cognitive powers and limited by its deficits. We might call it reality, but it is indeed an Umwelt, an idiosyncratic sensory picture of the living world around us.”

I am fascinated by how organisms perceive their environments—whether through night vision, echolocation, infrared, or scent. These sensory impressions shape unique realities, constructing worlds filled with unseen phenomena. While rooted in science, this process feels magical, and it is this intersection of art and perception that drives my work.

Inspired by Umwelt, I use experimental photographic techniques to explore how humans perceive the world. Photography, with its dual qualities of illusion and transformation, allows me to peel apart the layers of light and perception, inviting viewers into spaces just beyond the edge of seeing.

I am particularly drawn to photographing in protected, semi-wild spaces where the boundary between human-made and natural landscapes blurs. Through in-camera manipulations like multiple exposures on medium-format film, I reimagine the interplay of light and darkness, creating images that challenge assumptions about photography and perception itself.

Light is central to my practice. I am captivated by its journey—how it travels through space, interacts with optics, and transforms into an image. By manipulating light, I push the boundaries of what a photograph can be, exploring my own Umwelt of the natural world.

By merging science with art, I aim to reveal not just what is seen, but the act of seeing itself—a sensory alchemy that transforms perception into wonder.