IN MEMORY OF A MONOLITH

In Lanzarote, between 1730 and 1736, the eruptions of Timanfaya destroyed fertile land and 26 villages. The subsequent loss of 11 villages eventually forced the majority of the population to leave the island; yet remarkably, the human race still manages to overcome and survive such natural disasters. The unique history and seemingly extraterrestrial landscapes attracted Yuri Andries (b. 1986, Belgium) to the monolith island. Dark and elusive, his images show representations of the observations of evolution and human’s relationship with the elements.

As you progress through each photograph, the human subjects become a distant side effect in comparison to the natural elements and their energy. The featured nude men and women appear to be somewhat uncomfortable or lost. In today’s society, people spend their lives behind ever more intelligent screens, however it feels artificial to breathe with naked feet in fertile soil. As such, Andries challenges our perception of the evolution of mankind. He says: “Time and time again over the course of history, humans created tools to domesticate, dominate, conquer, invigorate, innovate. But how evolved are we really?”

— Gup Magazine