WHITE MONUMENT

KENT, UK, 2024

The White Cliffs of Dover are one the most famous natural monuments in the UK, let alone in my home county of Kent. It has profound symbolism of strength and hope. Acting as a historical defence from invaders and a comforting sight to soldiers returning home from battle. I wanted to go back home and visualised a print of the cliffs towering in their immense presence. 

When I made it to the location, a thick blanket of fog swept in from the English Channel. Destroying any hope of my visualisation coming to being. As an artist of the natural world, you must adapt like an animal to its ecosystem. I scrapped the idea of capturing the entire cliff. Instead, I focused on the people. 

After a few hours of filming, the fog returned to the seas from which it had emerged. My patience gave me the opportunity for my visualisation to come to life. 

I soon realised there was another problem. The high tide had marched in. I couldn't step back far enough to make the entire cliff in the frame. I was too close. 

Once again, I became an animal adapting to its ecosystem. I focused on the cliff foot. There were huge boulders, and the dark beach created a bold contrast. I noticed a group of boulders standing together and overcame two things. 

One, my fear of the cliffs. As a child, I was always warned not to go around the corner of the cliffs in case I got trapped by the tide. Two, the conditions. I thought fast of my feet and narrowed my focus on the base of the cliff. This print encapsulates overcoming fear and challenges. Two things an artist must rise to conquer every day. 

"THIS PRINT ENCAPSULATES OVERCOMING FEAR AND CHALLENGES. TWO THINGS AN ARTIST MUST RISE TO CONQUER EVERY DAY. 

–JACOB J. WATSON-HOWLAND

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