Phillipa Klaiber and Michael Swann are photographic artists based in Bristol (UK). Phillipa’s first major body of work, Vorest (2018-20), is a meditation on the changing landscape of the Forest of Dean, in South West England. Vorest considers the role of forests in myths and folklore. As well as the relationship between the narratives of the past and the environment in the present. Michael’s work explores aspects of religious belief, mysticism and phenomenology and aims to understand how photography can be used to communicate such themes. His latest body of work, Noema (2018-20), follows the search for the Virgin Mary’s presence in two locations in which she has reportedly been seen.
Phillipa has recently been selected for the 2021 Encontros da Imagem Photobook Award and is participating in this year’s East meets West masterclass. Her work has been shown across the UK, including Diffusion Festival and the Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Michael was selected as one of British Journal of Photography’s ‘Ones to Watch 2020’ and nominated for the Futures Photography talent platform; he has recently been shortlisted for the ISSP Self Publish Riga Dummy Award, the Landskrona Artist Residency, the PhMuseum Photography Grant and the Encontros da Imagem Photobook Award.
Both Phillipa and Michael graduated in 2020 with an MA in Photography from the University of West England.