A monumental photographic portrait of the people and landscape of a changing nation
The first monograph by Swedish Greek American photographer and artist Florence Montmare showcases images made in 2021-22 while she traveled across the United States from east to west (and back). Using an electric vehicle as a mobile studio, her 7,000-mile roundtrip odyssey took her through nearly 30 states, on iconic roads such as Route 66 in the Midwest and I-10 across Texas and the South. Montmare encountered individuals from all walks of life, often at her frequent charging stops, and she took the opportunity to ask people about their relationship to nature and hopes and dreams for the future. As a woman and immigrant, Montmare focuses on female, minority, Native American and LGBTQ perspectives and voices. The result is an unflinching, deeply personal yet universal portrayal of a transforming nation while the climate crisis alters the physical and social landscape.