The Thought of You

'The Thought of You' is a digital artwork that conveys a compelling narrative about the cycle of time, the resurgence of nature, and the socio-historical nuances of architectural landscapes.

This 1 of 1 piece is a collision of the past and future, as well as the physical and digital worlds.

As part of 'The Wild Within' collection, 'The Thought of You' revives an abandoned historic building by seamlessly merging photography and animation, giving rise to a surreal, contemplative, and dynamic architectural realm.

The artwork aims to reawaken this vacant space, essentially bringing life back into the building.

Since 2009, Ryan Koopmans and his partner, Alice Wexell, have been traveling the world, conducting research, exploring, and photographing forsaken buildings and distinctive architectural sites. They are attracted to these locations due to their historical, cultural, and architectural significance.

The locations span from ancient temples nestled in the mountains of Armenia to abandoned sanatoriums in Georgia and from ruined villas in Italy and Poland to those scattered across the Middle East and other distant lands.

After photographing the architecture, the images are transformed into virtual environments, with overgrown plant life added digitally. Subsequently, modifications are made to the lighting and structure, complemented by an original musical composition by Swedish composer Karl-David Larson.

This process culminates in the evolution of the static picture into a moving image that loops infinitely, transporting the viewer into an alternate place and time.

Specifically, 'The Thought of You’ finds its artistic expression against the stunning backdrop of a villa interior built in the early 1700s, located in the rural Lazio region of central Italy.

The architect's Baroque design was conceived to reflect the commissioning family's newfound prestige and economic prowess, symbolizing their elevated social status in the region.

Now, centuries later, the building stands abandoned, succumbing to overgrowth and decay. Nature infiltrates through deteriorating floors, cracks splinter across the plaster, and paint peels from the ceiling.

This historic architecture serves as a canvas for the artists to unleash their creativity, resulting in a meditative artwork that breathes new life into this timeless setting.

Nevertheless, the building continues to deteriorate and is being slowly disassembled, further emphasizing the primary theme of the work, the passing of time in a cycle of growth and decay.

By combining real-world photographic processes with the imaginative possibilities of digital techniques, a captivating artwork is created, steeped in conceptual meaning and aesthetic beauty.