Austin Cullen, Float, 2025, Archival Inkjet Print, 20 x 16 in

Austin Cullen explores the evolving relationship between technology, representation, and the natural world. As technological systems change, so too does the way we perceive and depict our surroundings. Through this body of work, Cullen examines the ethics of display and the points of overlap between humanity, landscape, and the constructed illusions of the virtual realm.

The project reflects on historical and contemporary modes of access to nature. In the past, natural history museums served as primary gateways to unfamiliar landscapes, presenting curated environments through dramatic dioramas and miniaturized scenes. Today, digital platforms allow near-instant access to images and representations of distant places. By contrasting these experiences, Cullen investigates how shifts in medium influence perception, memory, and understanding.

The framing devices used to present nature-whether museum displays, interactive virtual environments, or digital imagery-function as interpretive windows. While these frameworks guide how viewers read and understand the natural world, they can also be examined as constructs that shape and mediate our relationship to land. Museums have historically educated audiences about the environment, yet they may also create a sense of separation from it. In an era defined by global climate crisis, Cullen's work encourages a reassessment of how institutions influence our perception of nature.