Lucy Batchelor

bio·phil·ia ˌbī-ō-ˈfi-lē-ə –ˈfēl-yə : an innate and genetically determined affinity of human beings with the natural world. 

‘Biophilia’ encompasses themes of escapism, serenity and desperation surrounding Batchelor’s personal experiences of connecting with nature as an escape from cultural society.

A focus on the tactile and sensorial aspects of connection through contrasting delicate human skin against rough, earthy forest landscapes, emphasises a desire to understand and form closer relationships to the environment, seeking to evoke visceral responses from the viewer, prompting conversation and reflection on their personal feelings of interconnectedness between humans and nature and the lengths individuals may be willing to go to understand their own relationship between the body and the natural environment.

Batchelor’s photographic practice most frequently explores her personal fascination with the complex relationship between humans and nature and often address themes surrounding this connection through experimental and conceptual approaches. She finds particular intrigue in the ability of photography to address the more subtle and intimate connections between the two concepts through highlighting intricate textures and interconnected definitions. Within recent practice she has begun to evaluate where her work lies within wider explorations of these themes, recognising the history of objectification surrounding the topic and therefore exploring methods of subverting these stereotypes to portray connection in more reflective or empowering ways.