THE TRESPASSER

In preparation for this series Collins explored abandoned buildings, mainly mental asylums in South East London and delved deep into 17th century Dutch painting, which served as the template for her still life's. With these images, she reveals the beauty of transience, while combining the traditional still life genre with urban exploration. While these elements ostensibly contrast one other, Collins implements them in such a way as to break through the melancholy atmosphere of the abandoned locations, breathing new life into them and a unique aesthetic tension.
Creating the still life images in her studio, Collins brings them into a dialogue with the abandoned interiors through photomontage. Her masterly control over the lighting ensures the painterly appearance, reminiscent of the Dutch masters and gives a ghostly atmosphere to her photographs.
Being politically motivated and amid worldwide environmental concerns Collins seeks to offer a commentary on modern life as one of over-consumption and wastefulness. This series was shortlisted for an Arts Foundation fellowship in the Still life category.