Dutch photographer Scarlett Hooft Graafland is renowned for offering viewers a unique visual experience by combining the enchanting, unpredictable nature of the wild with the rhythm of everyday life. Her works blend the raw beauty of nature with the simplicity of human moments, creating a surreal world brought to life in frames fixed on the horizon. Graafland’s ability to bring together opposing forces makes her work thought-provoking, inviting viewers to explore harmony within contrasts.

Scarlett Hooft Graafland’s “Salt Lake” Exhibition

Scarlett Hooft Graafland’s latest exhibition draws inspiration from Turkey’s mesmerizing Salt Lake. The exhibition juxtaposes the pure whiteness and calm of nature with the dynamic essence of human life. Positioned within the vast white expanse of Salt Lake, Graafland’s works evoke a dreamlike sensation for viewers. Many of her pieces emphasize nature’s minimalist character while also addressing the complexities introduced by human intervention.

A Wedding Dress at Galataport Istanbul…

The exhibition’s most captivating piece, Wedding Dress Salt, reflects both the simplicity of nature and the richness of human life. At dawn, with the Historic Peninsula in the background, Graafland reinterpreted this piece at Galataport Istanbul, blending Istanbul’s historical texture with Salt Lake’s pristine nature. These frames demonstrate how two contrasting worlds can harmoniously coexist.

Early in the morning at Galataport Istanbul’s pier, the artist brought together the isolated natural beauty of Salt Lake with the intricate, multi-layered fabric of Istanbul to create new works. These photographs, captured at Galataport, tell a story where modernity and history intertwine, a narrative in which the past and future coexist.

In her photos, the union of these two contrasting worlds invites viewers to delve into the depths of both nature and the city. Graafland’s work is a call to those eager to explore the harmony of contrasts.

Scarlett Hooft Graafland’s works, reflecting both Istanbul and Salt Lake, offer not only a visual feast but also urge viewers to reconsider the relationship between nature and humanity. Her pieces, merging these two disparate worlds, forge a visual language that leaves a lasting impression.

After reinterpreting the iconic Wedding Dress Salt against the morning backdrop of the Historic Peninsula, Graafland answered questions about the isolated paths and contrasts of Istanbul and Salt Lake in her exhibition. Click here to watch.