Guardians, by photographer Martin Hill in collaboration with Philippa Jones, emerged in 2012 across the Southern Alps and later extended to Antarctica and Dusky Sound. The project introduces a human-like motif sculpted from natural materials, responding to the global climate emergency and humanity's role in the Anthropocene. Hill and Jones, long-time collaborators and environmental artists, aimed to address growing ecological concerns by linking the dual capacity of humans to either destroy or protect the Earth.
The titular figures serve as metaphors for this choice, appearing as silent sentinels within wild landscapes. The ephemeral sculptures return to their environments, leaving only photographs behind, emphasizing the values of impermanence, stewardship, and interconnectedness.
Visually, the images capture ephemeral human silhouettes, sculpted from site-specific materials like ice, reeds, grasses, and stone, set within wetlands, alpine valleys, and icy landscapes. These are photographed in natural light, often at dawn or dusk, using low angles to amplify the relationship between figure and landscape.
Following an Antarctica New Zealand residency in 2014, Guardians drew museum and festival attention—from McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery to Pingyao, where it received an Award of Excellence. A Conceptual first prize at the Fine Art Photography Awards (2016) and the book Fine Line: Twelve Environmental Sculptures Encircle the Earth further framed its ecological intent.
