Cafeteria, 2011 by Christopher Ernst

One of the increasingly popular subjects in contemporary art today is the human relationship with nature. Here at HHS!, we have received a lot of submissions on this very subject, and have already featured some very different takes by our Contenders. Just when we thought we'd seen just about everything having to do with this subject, Contender Christopher Ernst's images of landscape wallpapers yet again reminded us that, like nature itself, an art subject will always evolve, and there will always be a new and fresh perspective.

Bakery, 2011 by Christopher Ernst

Found in business and public interiors, these large scale, scenic and often vivid wallpapers create an awkward but profound contrast against what is in front of them, usually furniture and appliances that are commonly seen in cafes, waiting rooms, laundromats and diners. The quiet images really bring out the juxtaposition, but what you make of it, according to Ernst, is all up to you:

This group of images are selections from a body of work that spans the past year and a half. I set my focus on the interiors of businesses and public spaces that featured a specific type of mural wallpaper. My goal was to simply show these surreal interiors exactly how they exist, without judgement or comment.

Laundromat, 2010 by Christopher Ernst

Ernst was born "in the same NJ hospital as Irving Penn and Jan Groover." A recent graduate with a BFA in photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York, Ernst received an honorable mention at this year's New York Photo Festival, as well as a PDN Curator Award in the Student Work category. The latter earned him a spread in the PDN magazine and a place in The Curator group show at Milk Gallery.