Aleks Faust is a Russian-born conceptual photographer based in London. This month, I have a pleasure to be curating his FIRST ever solo exhibition at the Tavistock Centre in London.

Environmental is a collection of over 20 photographs depicting discarded objects in the streets of London, primarily Hackney and Camberwell. Aleks explores colour matching and harmony, seeking balance and composition amid the seeming disorder of the city. He describes his work as “a poetic exploration of chance and deliberation.” I sat down for a chat with him to find out more.

 

How did you start your journey as a photographer?

I studied Fashion Photography at the London College of Fashion, and graduated with an MA in 2022. After the course, I re-evaluated everything I’d been doing before. I noticed that when I did fashion or event photography, I would just copy someone else’s work instead of expressing myself through it. So, I decided to develop my skills and artistic practice, and focused on street photography.

Man standing in front of two pictures on a white wall

And the result is the collection Environmental that you’re currently exhibiting here at the Tavistock Centre. How have these artworks come about?

Initially, I was doing a series of street photography related to objects found in London streets. I started noticing similarities in the way people discard them. The name Environmental, alternatively spelled ENVIRONmental, is also a clue to another theme I’m exploring through my work, which is the mental aspect. I’m interested in WHY people get rid of these things, and HOW they do it. And the thought process behind it, which often reflects the way people deal with negative emotions and their mental health issues. I see patterns connecting the objects I find in the streets.

 

And how do you get to find them? Is it by chance, or do you actively look for them?

It’s a skill I have developed over time, and it depends on where you place your focus. After some time, I started noticing more and more interesting objects. People don’t really pay attention to rubbish in the streets, but you can come across some visually interesting things. I never know what I’m about to stumble upon. I always have my camera with me.

 

Do you interact with these objects in any way? I imagine you would often have the urge to alter something, at least slightly, to achieve a better final effect.

No, I never alter anything, and I don’t even touch the objects. They are photographed the way I find them. Sometimes I see something and do think, ‘OK, it would be much better if I slightly move this or that.’ But I never do that, and I don’t set anything up.

 

That’s impressive, because some of the photos look like there might be an element of staging to them. Take one of my favourites, the pink jumper attached to the fence.

Yeah, that jumper was really attached to the fence already. I found it in a small communal park in South London.

Four pictures on a white wall

Do you think that London has a problem with rubbish?

Rubbish will always be around, but I noticed that the way people discard it here is different than in other cities. We need to be aware of what we buy, and ask ourselves if we really need the things we own. The rubbish in the streets is just the reflection of our consumerism, which I think is the real problem here.

 

Did you want these photos to make people think about their lifestyles, their shopping habits, and the way they dispose of things?

Yes, that is one of the purposes of the project – to direct people’s attention to these issues, and raise their awareness.

A man and two women talking in a corridor; woman on the right is holding a cupcake to the camera

I also found an element of humour in your works…

Yes, I don’t like boring stuff. I do like to present objects in a funny way. I always look for a story, rather than just to take a picture of something. For example, chairs. I have a huge collection of photos of chairs discarded in the streets. There’s always a story behind a chair. They resonate with everyone. The moment you see one, it raises your own memories related to similar objects you had in your childhood, or more recently.

 

What’s next for you artistically? New photo series, exhibitions?

This summer, I’m in two group exhibitions: at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, and Somerset House where I’m exhibiting a collage that London College of Fashion has asked me to create out of their students’ work. But my biggest project at the moment is a photobook dedicated to the same theme as this exhibition.

 

Aleks Faust’s Environmental runs until 31st July 2024 at the Tavistock Centre, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA. Read more about Aleks on his website and follow him on Instagram.