Ryan Koopmans and Alice Wexell are artists who specialise in the visual revival of abandoned architecture. Using a range of creative techniques, they transform real-world physical spaces into captivating digital environments that blur the boundaries between reality and fiction. Ryan Koopmans (BA, MFA) is a Canadian-Dutch lens-based artist who is passionate about the built environment and its relationship with society. He has been a full-time professional artist and photographer since 2007 whose work is collected, published & exhibited worldwide. In 2020, Koopmans published ‘Vantage’, a book that showcases surreal structures in megacities and urban landscapes. Alice Wexell is a Swedish 3D artist and photographer interested in experiencing and creating surreal environments through new technologies. Over the past decade, Wexell has worked alongside Koopmans on digital art and photography projects all over the world. Their most celebrated project, The Wild Within, explores the intricate relationship between nature, architecture, and time.
The idea to create The Wild Within originated from our long term fascination with witnessing remnants of the past and our desire to build connections with various cultures and places through travel.
We have always been inspired to go to remote locations that have not yet been extensively photographed, spanning countries such as Ukraine, Brazil, Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, and China. These places often exhibit social, cultural, economic, and political extremes that are reflected in their architecture and built environment.
In particular, we were captivated by abandoned buildings that have been left to deteriorate without intervention, particularly in the town of Tskaltubo, Georgia, where the first pieces of The Wild Within were created.
These structures act as time capsules, especially rooms that have been sealed off from outside visitors for decades. By carefully composing images of these locations, which are then transformed into conceptual artworks, we activate our interests in architecture, nature, creative expression, and the human condition.
It is important to note that the structures we base our pieces on are inherently rare, as many of them are deteriorating or have already vanished since we initially discovered them. Fires, demolitions, looting, and the natural elements contribute to the disappearance and transformation of these buildings, as our world rapidly modernizes.
Furthermore, our artwork serves as a means to immortalize and preserve its subject matter through blockchain technology.
By doing so, we aim to create a form of artistic and interpretive architectural preservation within the artwork itself. This approach ensures that the visual essence of these unique and fleeting locations is captured and recorded for the future.
Our creative process begins with thorough research on a location that captures our interest. We delve into the social, political, historical, and architectural qualities of a particular city or country. Once we have chosen a location, we embark on a journey to that place, seeking out areas of significance and documenting the architecture through photography.
These photographs then become the foundation for our artwork. We utilize digital tools to transform the two-dimensional images into three-dimensional structures. This involves adding virtual foliage, light, movement, and atmospheric elements to create a dynamic visual experience. Our aim is to construct moving artworks that seamlessly loop, evoking a sense of suspended time within the scenes.
For instance, our genesis chapter of The Wild Within, is set in the town of Tskaltubo, Georgia, which we extensively researched and photographed over a span of eight years. This town was once a thriving spa destination during the Soviet Union era, but as the USSR collapsed, its ornate architecture fell into disrepair and began to deteriorate.
The second chapter, Everlasting, encompasses locations in Lebanon, Armenia, Georgia, Portugal, and Italy. Each of these regions has its own unique story, and our relationship with these places has deepened over the years of our artistic exploration. When initiating a new artwork or series, we prepare a comprehensive location list, allowing room for unexpected discoveries along the way.
Securing access, learning from locals, and grasping the contextual nuances of the subject matter are essential aspects of our pre-production process. Once on-site, we spend extended periods,
sometimes weeks or months, in the country, immersing ourselves in the environment and capturing photographs. With specialized lenses, we focus on documenting the interiors and structures that align with our conceptual and aesthetic vision.
Upon returning to the studio, we embark on the transformation phase. The visual elements are converted into 3D environments where animated plant life, light, structure, and sound are
integrated.
The inclusion of digital foliage serves to emphasize the themes of nature's resilience, its connection to human-made structures, and the passage of time.
The completed artworks, although based on real abandoned buildings we have visited and photographed, transcend mere replication. They are imaginative scenes that incorporate animated plants, flowers, and atmospheric effects, allowing us to accentuate the conceptual ideas that we resonate with.
The aim of The Wild Within is to explore and convey various interconnected themes. One prominent theme is the cyclical nature of growth and decay, along with the passage of time. This exploration allows us to highlight the beauty and significance found in the continuous processes of transformation.
Another important aspect of our artwork is the contrast and paradox between what is real and what is artificial. We challenge the traditional interpretation of the "natural vs. manmade" dichotomy by inverting it within our work. The physical architectural structures depicted in our artwork are real, as they exist in the physical world, while the animated plants and sunlight are digitally created, thus artificial. This juxtaposition invites viewers to question their perceptions and preconceived notions.
We strive to merge the physical and the digital realms in our creations. By seamlessly integrating animated elements with real-life architecture, we aim to blur the boundaries between the tangible
and the virtual. This fusion creates a sense of uncanniness and surrealism, evoking an atmosphere that aims to captivate and intrigue.
Our approach in The Wild Within draws inspiration from art history, particularly the Capriccio movement of the Renaissance and Baroque periods in the 1600s and 1700s. Artists like Giovanni Antonio Canal and Gennaro Greco were pioneers in this genre, which involved creating decorative architectural compositions by combining real and imagined elements. They blended their imaginative interpretations of ‘exotic’ and historical locations with actual architectural structures they had observed. This technique allowed them to create paintings that celebrated the interplay between overgrown nature and human-made structures.
In a similar vein, our artwork in The Wild Within incorporates a similar approach by fusing reality and imagination. We sometimes composite different architectural elements from multiple photographs into a single artwork, resulting in hybrid structures that blend aspects of both reality and fantasy. This technique further emphasizes the contrast and evokes a sense of wonder and intrigue within the viewer.
The future of The Wild Within involves a long-term growth strategy focused on releasing highquality 1/1 pieces. We dedicate extensive time and consideration to ensure their fit within a complete series. Embracing innovative technologies, we create immersive and contemporary contexts while preserving their timeless essence.
Through Web3 and blockchain, we actively support the communities inspiring our artwork, mentor fellow artists, and share our expertise in digital art and photography. While our work is digital, we recognize the significance of presenting it physically through archival prints, highquality screens, and unconventional displays.
Expanding through physical exhibitions and embracing new technologies, we strive to engage a broad audience, evoking transformative experiences.
We aim to enter traditional art establishments, including museums and collections, leveraging technology to create impactful presentations of the work.
