Originally from Northern California, I came to London in1998 to study theatre design at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. After gaining a Masters in Scenography I worked in theatre and television as a prop maker, set builder and scenic artist. As an extension of this work I began photographing textures and colours, line and form, both as research for and documentation of the theatrical work. Gradually my passion for photography has grown to become the main focus and the practical theatre work a means of funding the photography.

The Billboard series has been an ongoing project since my arrival in London. Coming from an area of great natural beauty I have always looked to landscape for inspiration. Advertising forms a large portion of the visual impact of the city. When these images become distressed by time, weather and human contact they become windows into surreal and beautiful landscapes. Likewise the sky becomes a respite from the sensory overload of the cityscape. Looking up I have been struck by the diversity and delicacy of its palate. A link in all of the work is an observation of surface. The challenge of capturing three dimensional space in a photograph is by no means as interesting to me as taking a surface and photographing it is such a way that it becomes imbued with depth and form.

Rajesh Westerberg

London
March 5, 2003