S a m B u r z a k

Deemed as an idealist and daydreamer, my desire to experience something other than the ordinary energetically influences my art practice, and it is a feeling I seek to express through the work I make.

I Thought You Left / I Wish You Were Here is an intricate embodiment of the essence of life. The series of silver gelatin lumen prints features metaphorical portraits of my late mother made with her ashes and abstract, otherworldly landscapes that connect to the natural and physical worlds. It delves into process-based photography and explores the fundamental aspects of our existence; it reflects on life's fragile, ephemeral nature and the ever-evolving transformation inherent in our bodies and the universe.

The lumen prints in this series are either partially fixed or completely unfixed, meaning the longer the paper is exposed to light, the quicker the pastel hues of pink, purple, and yellow-orange will fade. The impermanent aspect of the original lumen prints imbues them with a temporal element, akin to living beings evolving and reacting to their environment, comparable to the experiences connected to my mother’s passing.

The work in I Thought You Left / I Wish You Were Here conveys a profound connection to my mother despite her physical absence. I sense her spirit intertwined with nature; I see and feel her essence in the warm, radiant sunshine and the welcoming blue sky; her gentle presence is manifested in the cool breeze blowing through the trees, and her beauty is reflected in the butterflies and hummingbirds that bring joy and wonder to my outdoor adventures in the spring and summer. The Rocky Mountains resonate with her strength, while the wildflowers flourishing in the valley echo her grace. The epithet ‘Mother Earth’ takes on a deeper meaning when a soul like hers embodies every aspect of the natural world.

Through I Thought You Left / I Wish You Were Here, I address themes such as grief, memory, impermanence, and spirituality. By making work relating to sensitive and delicate topics such as loss and the fleeting nature of life, I aim to evoke a feeling of tranquility and calmness in those who contemplate my art, serving this work as a gentle reminder that our time on this planet is a beautiful but temporary journey and that it is essential to cherish every moment and experience it to the fullest.