Olivia Lavergne (b. 1979) is interested in how rainforests are conjured in the public imagination. As such, her images are not tied to a particular place; instead, they transport us to unnamed tropical lands rich in colour and texture. The following compositions might seem familiar – like something we’ve seen before in a painting, or at the cinema – but Lavergne has attempted to blur all geographical references, instead crafting a fictional space totally transformed by her lens. It’s about the settings that appear when we close our eyes. Tangles of lush, verdant leaves, ripe berries and hills are cast in light and shadow. The French photographer is dedicated to assembling the perfect scene: she travels to and explores locations on foot, eventually finding a spot to set down flash bulbs, stage lighting and lenses. A whole studio is built, then deconstructed, on location. “It’s a bit like bringing nature into the theatre,” she says. “Or is it the other way around?” olivialavergne.com 

All images: © Olivia Lavergne, from Jungles, (2013). Fine Art Print Hahnemüle, 100 x 100 cm.