In his new collection, aptly titled Motherland, Raphael Mazzucco embarks on a personal journey that traces his roots back to the diverse landscapes of Canada. Inspired by the untamed wilderness of his native land, Mazzucco's latest artworks offer a glimpse into the soul of a country rich in natural splendour and untold stories.

“Silver Morning” was shot in Anyox, the abandoned ghost town in northern British Columbia. Shot at 5am, the artist remembers the sounds of nearby wolves howling across the water while he was shooting this image. The location is truly untouched, being originally a thriving silver and copper mining town in the early 1900’s, abandoned years later due to the Great Depression. “This whole place was a magical playground both visually and spiritually” the artist told us.

His new Motherland artworks are visually captivating and emotionally evocative pieces that beg further inspection. Interspersed throughout the collection are handwritten notes featuring the prose and poetry of Margaret Atwood, renowned Canadian novelist and poet. Atwood’s prose famously draws inspiration from the Canadian landscape, vividly describing the vast wilderness and rugged coastlines, capturing the essence of the country's natural beauty in her works. Her words encased throughout the layers of Mazzucco’s originals embellish an intimate and arresting tribute to the raw and wild terrain of his homeland.

“You just feel the wild in such a deep way, and the energy around you is less human. When you're in the bush, it's more about the animals and the surroundings that you're in. I've never been to that part of Canada, where it's just so out in the wild, and you feel so vulnerable being there. You really have to have acknowledge being in a space like that, because I'm used to Africa, or New Mexico where it's very wide open and there is lots of light. This is the opposite, there is such dense forest and all the animals.”

Mazzucco’s visual narrative captures the human form against a backdrop of startling landscapes that span the continents, from Icelandic glaciers to African and Brazilian wildlife. By layering paint, photography, resin and hand-lettered text, the globally acclaimed photographer and sell-out artist takes viewers on a documentary-style journey through geographic and emotional terrains. “Beauty layered with natural elements has always been my recipe. Nothing we create can compare to the perfect beauty of nature.”

Find out more about Motherland collection here or alternatively shop more Mazzucco’s art here.