Transmutation

• Photographer
  Katherine Young

The central concept in alchemy is transmutation - the fundamental change of one thing into another, from an impure to a more balanced and pure state. This is understood on multiple levels - physically, spiritually and symbolically. Gold to the alchemist was perfect and incorruptible, while lead was seen as unripe and immature gold. By finishing what nature had started through separating, purifying, balancing and recombining the Principles, lead could be completed, perfected and transmuted into gold. My series aims to embody this process, transmuting raw materials into final images.

I’m an avid, amateur fine art photographer currently based in London. I began my own journey with travel photography, aiming to capture the essence of each of the places I visited. Inspired by the contemporary environment of Singapore, I later focused my attention on cityscapes and architecture. More recently, I find myself attracted to nature and seascapes.