Reuben Wu Transforms your Wilderness with Light Carrying Drones in Space

Reuben Wu’s art just keeps evolving. When we first featured him in 2015, he was re-contextualising frequently photographed “uncommon” places. Then, he went on to document the total opposite in rarely photographed, remote locations of Norway.

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Now, Reuben has further developed his art by modifying his landscape photographs with geometric shapes created by artificial light-carrying drones in a new series entitled Aeroglyphs. The results show scenery filled with dreamy, surreal shapes that cast luminous shadows on the ground below.

We exchanged fun, rapid-fire questions with the British photographer, musician, and filmmaker to learn more.

THE PLUS: Night or Day?
Reuben Wu:
Right in between. An hour after sunset/before sunrise is my favourite time.

TP: Tea or Coffee?
RW:
Coffee in the USA. Tea in the UK.

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TP: Three words describing your artistic style.
RW:
Light Space Modulator.

TP: Oceans or Mountains?
RW:
Mountains are the closest to my heart.

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TP: The biggest changes in your style or life as a creative since we first spoke in 2015?
RW:
I think I was struggling at the time with the challenge of how to elevate landscape photography to a place which felt like I had real creative ownership. It just seemed like cheating, taking credit for pointing a camera at a beautiful landscape, and I realised that using technology I could show a familiar place in an unfamiliar light, and change people’s perceptions in a powerful way.

TP: Your biggest inspiration in one word.
RW:
Imagination.

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TP: Autumn, Spring, Summer or Winter?
RW:
Winter.

TP: Spontaneous or planned?
RW:
Plantaneous.

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TP: Analogue or digital?
RW:
I don’t care. All that matters is whether it’s a good picture or not.

TP: Books or TV?
RW:
Books.

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TP: Introvert or Extrovert?
RW:
Introvert.

TP: Three words describing your perfect photo shoot.
RW:
Time. Space. Memory.

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TP: If you could only listen to one music artist for the next week, who would it be?
RW:
Boards of Canada.

TP: What is a one-word location of your best memory?
RW:
Wilderness.

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