“I was actually standing in front of my studio window when it was raining, mesmerized by the water droplets running down the glass, at different speeds, blending into each other, making symmetrical and asymmetrical forms, shiny and reflective. It was quite meditative and beautiful,” Banks said.
The artist replicated the moment in his studio setting up a similar situation where he would control the environment a bit more. “I found that a concave, rather than a flat glass surface, produced a great result for what I wanted visually,” he said.
According to the artist, the series works perfectly in a hotel setting, giving off vibes that transport people to places of peace.
“Firstly, human beings are readily attracted to shiny things, and anything connected with liquid,” Banks said. “These images contain both of these ideas. I did a bit of market research with a selection of people after I’d shot the images, asking them to describe in a single adjective their reaction to the series.”
Words that came out of the research were: jewel, yoga, chill, relax, dream, beauty, silver, feel, joy, escape and even sex, which, in a sense, are all positive potential sensations for a hotel experience, Banks said.
“There are a lot of hotel brands in the market right now, and many sub-brands, and between them they actually offer practically every kind of interior look that can be imagined,” Banks said. “A guest can choose between urban cool, coastal, shabby chic, industrial, eco, natural, Japandi, minimalist, maximalist, transitional, European, ethnic, etc. Literally, all styles are available. I think that what is evident, and what started pre-COVID, is an emphasis on experiential stays, and a careful consideration, as we hurtle towards the metaverse and virtual environments, of what is it to be human, and our emotional and physical needs as a human.”
Tags: Photo Artist, Michael Banks, water droplets
