The Warhol of the 21st Century : WONDERLAND x ANDERSON

Dubbed the Warhol of the 21st Century, international photographer + producer Anderson has been challenging the conventional realities with his abstract perspective and perceptions of beauty and power with self portraits for Wonderland. The photographer talks inspirations, staying creative and helping the next generation of creatives.

Your exploration of identity is fascinating – is there an ultimate goal you’d like to reach whilst you explore gender and identity through photographs?
I think that the most beautiful thing photographs can convey, or at least that I like to play with, is the intersection between fantasy and reality. The finer the line, the better. When we look at a photograph of another human being, at the very least we relate to the subject on a primal level. Questions like “who is this?; why is that expression on their face?; what are they thinking?” begin to race through the mind. As a photographer, these mental processes interest me very much! No matter how fantastical the photograph might be, I want the viewer to feel like the character I have fabricated is real. Perhaps they could exist in an alternate dimension with different cultural customs and laws of physics, or perhaps they could be your neighbour down the road. If my art makes you question your own perception through the life of someone that does not exist, I have succeeded. Dreams weave reality.

How do you make your photographs say exactly what you’re trying to express?
My photographs often take on a life of their own; this is what makes them so potent. I try to never have an exact outcome in mind. When you expect an outcome, you spoil the prospect of serendipity. This all sounds a bit estranged, yes … and it is, but there is also a logical side to it. When you refine your skills to a point that you can work without a lack-based mindset, you begin to tap into a headspace of ideas you did not know existed!

What’s the most challenging aspect about completing your work?
The post-processing. I wish my wildest ideas could be realised with the snap of my fingers, but alas – back to the darkroom. Retouching is an under-appreciated technical art.

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