Words in Sight is a narrative photography series inspired by poetry written by the artist over the past decade. These mesmerizing and supernatural staged images are presented as film stills or dramatic moments from around the world. The unsettling mise-en-scène are full of sex, desire, sadness and nostalgia -narratives that are psychologically evocative – at once sublimely theatrical yet poignant. Frozen in time, solitary and vulnerable moments are presented in glorious technicolor and timeless sets.
My photographs are based on self-written poems, and depict characters in human dramas and isolated emotional situations. Encapsulating my memories and emotions in poems, I then transform them into images, offering a new perspective. Composing the shot is a lengthy process. Setting up a shot can take up to three weeks of preparation. When choosing the characters, I look for people who can give something of themselves. The imagery plays with notions of nostalgia, and taps into society’s cultural understanding of feelings and beliefs. The composition of each image suggests a larger narrative within a single moment. The photograph explores my sense of self and society and aims to engage and trigger an emotional response from the viewer.
Hyland describes herself is an ‘image-maker’ as she personally composes every aspect of her pictures. Originally from Ireland, Gillian’s career began in publishing, where she worked as a fashion stylist and features writer for a number of well-known national magazines. This led to a move into the television industry, and later into the film industry, where she worked in a variety of roles, including stylist, set designer, and art director.
This diverse background helped her develop a passion for making images, which evolved into her own distinctive photographic style.
Gillian released her fine art series Words in Sight in 2014; since then her photographs have been exhibited extensively around the world and have received several awards
Submit your work to be considered for solo or group exhibitions in Head On Photo Festival.
Enthralling. Enchanting. Extraordinary. Discover exceptional photography for free around Sydney during the festival 8 Nov–1 Dec 2024
