SHOW CAVES is a collection of large format photographs that explores the anthropocentric tendencies of modern tourism seen in domestic and international show caves. These images highlight the tension between the staggering natural beauty of caves and the renovations people make in order to transform these caves into spectacular tourist attractions. Are these additions acts of vandalism disrupting a delicate eco-system for the sake of profit? Or do these human interventions draw attention to the preservation of caves and make hard-to-access natural wonders readily available for appreciation?
Born and raised in New York City, Austin Irving is a visual artist who works with large format analog photography. Irving graduated with a BFA from the Department of Photography and Imaging at TISCH School Of The Arts at NYU in 2006. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Hong Kong, India, Germany, Paris, Switzerland, and across The United States. Her images have been featured in The LA Times, Wired, Slate, Architectural Digest, LA Weekly, Art Ltd, Artillery, TimeOut NY, The International Herald Tribune, The Huffington Post, Frontrunner, Artsy, Yatzer, and Artweek LA.
