BRIGITTA W. SULTANA

E M E R G E

Translation from Sight to Surface

emerge: verb, to rise or come forth from or as if from water

These series of images “emerged” and were inspired from our family trip to Gozo, Malta, a small island off the coast of Italy. One of the beautiful things Malta is known for is its sea salt. These vast salt pans line part of the coast as the evaporating sea water reveals the glistening salt to be harvested. It is a peaceful, man-made geometric landscape set beside organic formations of limestone, clumps of rosemary, dots of red tomatoes and cliffs that drop into the deep blue depths of the Mediterranean Sea.

“Stones and pebbles dot the sandy beaches and create an invitation to enter the crisp, cool sea. My children, along with their cousins, were excited by these large stones and built a wall along the beach to “protect” sunbathers from the crashing waves. This constructed landscape was so simple and beautiful that I had to capture this moment as this landscape was present for just a glimpse in time.

Whether witnessing constructed landscapes made by others or by me, this drives me to record and capture these moments. My color palette is influenced by my surroundings at the time which I incorporate into my work.”