This series began back in 2020 with the discovery of an abandoned barn and house near my hometown. This quiet and forgotten property piqued my curiosity, filling my head with many questions: What happened here? Who called this home? Where are they now? But what began as a documentary photo essay on the story of this space evolved drastically the more I returned. With each visit, I began to see myself more and more in the property. Like the barn and house, I too would one day reach the end of my time. I too will eventually be old, fragile, and quiet. The property began to serve as a reminder to me that an end – death – is the only thing promised in our life. No matter how “safe” I play my life, or whether I make the “right” decisions or not, I will still die. So, while this project began as a documentary investigation, in some ways, it became a reminder of my existence; a meditation on appreciating my life. Influenced by the reflective music of Hayden Pedigo, the work ultimately serves as a reminder to slow down and appreciate the present. Each image is an invitation to consider how moments, much like these abandoned structures, are fleeting and transient, urging viewers to cherish what exists before it fades away.
Aidan Clark is a Canadian artist and photographer who works largely with analogue processes. Through analogue image-making, Aidan uses photography as a meditative practice to explore various themes such as life and death, gender, and connection. With these emotional motifs, his work often strives to capture a sense of quiet and stillness, acting as an invitation for the viewer to connect the work and meaning to their own life.