Remnants of Dreams
Remnants of Dreams is a photographic project by Joshua Oldfield spurred on by a desire to explore a childhood fascination with American culture.
The project began on a cross-country road trip of America and captures relics from a time where the American dream was at its peak. The images ask the viewer to move beyond nostalgia and honor the design ethos of those decades, when character, charm and detail prevailed.
As the project evolved, certain visual themes emerged: the repetition of blue and yellow, soft pastel hues, and the vast open sky. These themes evoke a sense of happiness and tranquility, and became a way for the photographer to offset the underlying sadness he perceived in his landscapes in a cathartic way. It soon becomes evident that the project had a much more intensely personal meaning – of pursuing happiness through the creation of these images.
Ultimately, Remnants of Dreams unveils a visual self-medication.