from the real world to the digital realm and back
humanity's countercultural round trip
As our digital habitat expands, it occupies more and more territory where the physical world used to be—the original place of socializing, working, shopping, and whatnot-ing. The internet smooths out the friction we experience when interacting with reality: like arguing uncomfortably face to face, toiling unpleasantly in fields or factories or firms, and browsing inconveniently by schlepping our feet through a store.
The world wide web disconnects us from everything difficult; but without the resistance of our surroundings, we are shaped into nothing. Struggle creates form, and form houses meaning. Took humanity a long time to walk out of those caves, but only a moment to fall into that digital trap.
Now, I’m not advocating we move back in with the past—I couldn't live the life I'm living without digital technologies—but maybe we’re overdoing it a bit with the future. And moving forward into the wrong direction might be more regress than progress.
Fortunately, too much of anything becomes rocket fuel for countermovements: hipsters with flip phones, GenZs strapped into the analog world with their headphone cords, millennials experimenting with permaculture. Good.
As for myself: my work starts in the real world, passes through the digital realm, and—if I’m lucky—goes full circle as tangible artwork. Here’s what that can look like:
Global Heat Forum, Bangkok
Happy to report that my work was exhibited at the Global Heat Forum and Climate Action Week in Bangkok earlier this month, where it helped illustrate extreme heat and resilience strategies.
“The Global Heat Forum brings together leaders and practitioners working across public health, climate, government, research, civil society, media, policy and finance to accelerate action on extreme heat and its impacts on health, the environment, livelihoods and sectors across borders.”
Maddie West,
on behalf of GHHIN and WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Programme
Yeoju International Photo Festival 2026, South Korea
My picture A SHOT 4,500 YEARS IN THE MAKING (bottom right) is currently on display at the Yeoju International Photo Festival. The festival is becoming one of the leading outdoor photography events in South Korea, and I’m very glad that I was invited to participate.
a wild project
When my client Patrizia asked me whether I could imagine something a little bigger for one of her walls, I didn't imagine just how big a project we were about to tackle. The logistics of printing, delivering, and installing an artwork measuring over 6x6 feet (nearly 2x2 meters) were as wild as the jungle vibe echoing through that interior design vision. Thanks for sharing this first glimpse, Patrizia!
If you have walls too, don't hesitate to reach out:
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So long,
Miles
