Kelly Burgess

Kelly Burgess is a photographer living and working in Arlington, MA. She received her BFA in Photography in 2009 from the Lesley University College of Art and Design (formerly the Art Institute of Boston) and a Master’s degree in 2013. Most of Kelly’s work delves deep within the subject of representation – be it emotional, philosophical, or linguistic. She exhibits her photographs internationally, most recently being named one of the Vermont Center for Photography’s 30 Under 30. Today we share Kelly’s series titled War of the Worlds.

Blue Spruce – South Windsor, CT.

Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) – Boston, MA.

Wild Desert – Boston, MA.

Butterfly Habitat – Jamaica Plain, MA.

War of the Worlds

“Hyperreality is characterized by the inability to consciously distinguish reality from simulation. Because of our current industrialized culture and technical advancements, we find ourselves living in a hyperreal society. We have lost our grasp on Realty – not in the tactile sense, but the true and original state of existence.

Tropical Rainforest – Boston, MA.

Scenic Overlook – Caterpillar Hill, ME.

Snowshoe Hare – Boston, MA.

These are places where we are removed from the original but perhaps are unaware of it. Sometimes we are so far removed that we mistake the hyperreal for Reality itself. One of the most important shifts in our culture has been the ability to simulate to the point of not being able to distinguish between Real and fake and in some instances, representations have come to supersede that which they are representing.

Solar Power – Holbrook Island Sanctuary, ME.

Fall Foliage (Peak) – Boston, MA.

Nature Preserve – Holbrook Island State Park, ME.

This project is not only about how we’ve begun to accept the hyperreal as Reality, but also about how we strive to make “real” object and experiences more Real and enjoyable. More and more, our daily lives are constructed to maximize satisfaction and we have reached a point in time where there is more simulation than not. Representations were once at war with their originals, but no longer. Now, we are living in the aftermath of that battle.”