In the Jordanian desert, Syrian families displaced by war huddle atop stacks of boxes like stalwart islands in a dry and unforgiving landscape. Photographer Nick Brandt captures children, siblings, and entire families who stand together and climb skyward like monuments or promontories—what the artist describes as “pedestals for those that in our society are typically unseen and unheard.”

The series marks the fourth chapter in an ongoing series called The Day May Break, which has taken Brandt around the world in search of visual stories illuminating the effects of the climate crisis.

Brandt began the series in 2020, reflecting on myriad experiences of “limbo,” both in the midst of the pandemic and relating to the tenuous ecological balance of our planet. In an essay accompanying Chapter One of The Day May Break, Brandt writes:

Nearly twenty years ago, I started photographing the wild animals of Africa as an elegy to a disappearing world. After some (too many) years seeing the escalating environmental destruction, I felt an urgent need to move away from that kind of work and address the destruction in a much more direct way.

Brandt began the series in Zimbabwe and Kenya, focusing the first chapter on portrayals of both people and animals that have been impacted by environmental degradation and destruction. Every person he documented was deeply affected by the changing climate. “Some were displaced by cyclones that destroyed their homes,” Brandt says. “For some, like Kuda in Zimbabwe, or Robert and Nyaguthii in Kenya, it was more tragic: both of them lost two young children, swept away by the floods.”

For Chapter Two, Brandt traveled to the Senda Verde Animal Sanctuary in Bolivia, where wildlife affected by trafficking and habitat destruction are cared for. And for Chapter Three, subtitled SINK/RISE, he took his camera into the ocean off the coast of Fiji, focusing on individuals whose livelihoods have been impacted by rising sea levels. Plunging decrepit furniture onto the sea floor, individuals and families interact with one another entirely underwater.

For the series’ newest addition, Chapter Four, subtitled The Echo of Our Voices, Brandt traveled to arid Jordan, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. The dramatic black-and-white photos feature refugee families who fled the war in Syria. Perched on stacks of cubes, they transform into living monoliths, symbolic of resilience, surrounded by the rugged, sandy expanse.

The photographer says, “Living lives of continuous displacement largely due to climate change, they are forced to move their homes up to several times a year, moving to where there is available agricultural work—to wherever there has been sufficient rainfall to enable crops to grow.” Parents stand alongside their children; siblings embrace; and families are shown alternately gazing into the distance, turning to one another for comfort, or taking time to rest.

“This chapter is different from the first three chapters, both visually and emotionally: a show of connection and strength in the face of adversity; that when all else is lost, you still have each other,” Brandt says. Explore much more work on his website.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Nick Brandt’s Photos Stress the Resilience of Syrian Refugees in the Face of the Climate Crisis appeared first on Colossal.

Regular film shooter and analogue expert Toby Mason has teamed up with his son Felix, aged 12, for a special film swap project using some LomoChrome Purple and Turquoise 35 mm film. They talked to us about the results and shared some handy tips.

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From digital painting to cut-paper stop-motion animation, this award-winning Chinese artist is passionate about creating visual narratives with energy, positivity, and a sense of life.

The pandemic was awful, let's make no bones about it, but just how many talented creatives discovered their true calling during lockdown? Count Fangfang Han among them. In 2020, she was a fashion buyer working in a busy industry where there just wasn't time to explore other creative avenues. Fast forward to 2024, and she's recently won a World Illustration Award for New Talent in Animation.

Plenty of learning, exploring new mediums and conceptualisation has gone on between then and now. "My style has been shaped through years of experimentation – printmaking, collage, hand-drawing, stop-motion, digital painting – I've tried it all. While most of my work is now digital, my style is still evolving. To me, storytelling and emotional connection matter more than just aesthetics. It's about the message I'm conveying and how it makes people feel," says Fangfang.

Originally from Hefei in eastern China, Fangfang relocated to London, studied illustration at the Kingston College of Art, and graduated this year. She has already worked on projects with various clients, covering travel and lifestyle topics for UK publications such as Teen Breathe and creating children's book illustrations for Ximalaya in China.

Perhaps her most eye-catching piece is The Tube, a wonderfully quirky animation that pulls out dozens of the little aspects of riding the London Underground in Fangfang's whimsical creative style. What began as a university project was taken on by Transport for London, which used the piece to help celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Underground in 2023.

"The idea came after a late-night London Tube ride on the Victoria Line, listening to station announcements and the hum of conversations," she explains. "That moment sparked the idea to create a project about the Underground. I spent over a month riding different lines, researching the Tube's unique atmosphere and its role in daily life."

Fangfang aimed to humanise and beautify the experience by depicting the interiors of the stations and the trains, as well as some of the people who use the service. The piece combines her drawings and digital artwork with Chinese-inspired cut-paper animation and plenty of sounds you'll hear on any Tube journey.

It led Fangfang to win a World Illustration Award in Animation this year. Part of her prize was an opportunity to choose one of the illustration agencies sponsoring the awards, and she selected IllustrationX because of the company's history and global reach.

Today, Fangfang splits her time between London and Hefei. The former inspires her creativity, with its galleries, museums, and variety on offer. The latter is where she connects with family, friends, and her pet budgies. And just like her lifestyle, her work bridges Eastern and Western cultures.

"Growing up, I was surrounded by traditional arts and crafts – calligraphy, embroidery, paper cutting, and ceramics. My family also played a big role. My mom and grandpa loved Beijing opera, and I even learned to sing and play the jinghu, a traditional Beijing opera instrument," says Fangfang. "Summers were spent learning traditional Chinese painting. At the same time, I was influenced by global culture – Disney animations, Miyazaki films, French comics, and English literature. That blend of traditional Chinese roots and international exposure has shaped how I see the world and tell stories through my work."

Next, Fangfang wants to combine her illustration and animation skills to create brand campaigns for clients in travel and culture, illustrate non-fiction books and collaborate with fashion designers to create patterns and prints.

This spacious tiny home is called the Mobi Individual Baobab. It includes two bedrooms and a sofa bed for guests. The exterior is equipped with a staircase that offers access to a rooftop deck area. The home is designed by Poland’s Mobi House, and it is based on a triple-axle trailer. It features a length of 8.4 meters, and the exterior showcases a finishing in sheet metal. The sheet metal is paired with spruce accenting and a metal roof. The exterior staircase offers easy access to the rooftop terrace, which can be collapsed when not being used.

Designer: Mobi House

The entrance leads into the center of the home, with the living room on one side. The living room features a large L-shaped sofa bed with integrated storage and a TV that is mounted to the ceiling. The kitchen is next to the living room, and it seems quite roomy with cabinetry and an oven with an induction cooktop, microwave, sink, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, and dishwasher.

The kitchen and bathroom are connected via a mirrored sliding door. The bathroom seems compact but is equipped with the basics – storage, a flushing toilet, a vanity sink, and a shower. The tiny home features two bedrooms – both are loft-style with low ceilings. You can access them via a double staircase that includes integrated storage on the kitchen side. The bedrooms host double beds and some storage, but one bedroom includes a second single bed too.

The rooftop deck is a bonus to the house, expanding the living space. It offers residents an additional section that is useful and functional. The rooftop deck can be utilized in a variety of ways. It could be a great space to host guests during summer!

The tiny home is also equipped with an underfloor heating system, and a mini-split air-con unit to keep residents warm during the cold Polish winters. The house was built to order for a client in Poland, and currently, we have no word on the pricing yet.

The post This Build-to-Order Tiny Home Offers Additional Living Space With A Handy Rooftop Deck first appeared on Yanko Design.