When Alberta-grown photographer Evan Will returned to Canada after six years living in Tokyo, he didn’t expect his photography focus would change from commercial fashion shots to landscapes.
“People talk about culture shock, and I didn’t expect to have that during my days in Japan,” says Will. “But when I came back [to Alberta] and stayed after many years, it was a bit shocking to me to adjust to the slow pace again.”
With several commissions postponed in 2020, Will decided to take the free time to revisit the landscape he grew up in. He spent the past couple of years taking photographs for Coming Home: Landscapes in Western Canada and the western United States. But he focused a lot of his attention on Alberta.
“Growing up on a farm, I’ve always had a close relationship with nature. On this trip, I was able to visit and rediscover places I had gone to when I was a child, explore new sweeping vistas, endless plains, remote mountains and delicate badlands. I wanted to focus on the parametric views of classic landscape shots that are addictive to see.”
The photography exhibition now opens with pre-scheduled exhibit tours. In the two upcoming artist chats, Will will present the backstories of each photograph, the technique he used, and what inspired him the most from the sights.
Walk with Evan Will through the lens of nostalgia at Miller Art Gallery inside Roxy Theatre until August 24. Artist chats on July 26 and August 6.
