Marlies Plank
Soapbubble Studies | In *Soapbubble Studies*, I explore the fragility and beauty of nature through the lens of surrealism, using giant soap bubbles as metaphors for the shifting realities of our world. These ethereal, floating bubbles hover in tranquil landscapes, symbolizing the delicate balance between nature’s serenity and the instability of the modern era.
Each bubble represents the fragile yet captivating moments we live in—where climate change looms like an invisible force, threatening to burst the illusion of stability we have long clung to. The fleeting existence of a soap bubble parallels the fragile state of our planet and ecosystems. Just as a bubble can disappear with the slightest breeze, our natural world is at risk of collapse from environmental degradation and climate change. Through this series, I aim to capture the tension between beauty and vulnerability, inviting the viewer to reflect on the consequences of inaction.
Beyond environmental concerns, *Soapbubble Studies* also speaks to the economic and social "bubbles" we navigate—moments of unsustainable growth, rising inequality, and the ever-present uncertainty of global systems. The bubbles floating through serene landscapes are visual reminders of how, in unstable times, reality can shift in an instant. Economic bubbles, much like the ones in these photographs, are temporary and fragile, eventually bursting and reshaping our sense of security. These delicate structures mirror the instability in which we live—caught between the allure of progress and the hidden forces that may upend our lives.
In this body of work, the soap bubbles serve as symbols of transience, echoing the impermanence of both our natural world and societal structures. They remind us that despite the beauty we can create, we must also be mindful of the fragility of the systems we depend on. My hope is that *Soapbubble Studies* serves as a portal for reflection—on nature’s resilience, our collective responsibility toward preserving it, and the precarious nature of the times we live in. www.marliesplank.art
