Vital Mud by Hiske Altena First Edition of 1000 Published by The Eriskay Connections Otabind softcover with folded inlay About With the photographic project Vital Mud, Hiske Altena (NL) explores the theory that life on Earth once began in clay. In the 1980s, her uncle, a now-retired geologist, found an unusual rattle stone. In this stone, he discovered organic-looking structures that he could not explain with existing geological theories. However, the alternative so-called “clay hypothesis”, according to which clay helped the evolution of early life forms, seems to offer a better explanation. Hiske Altena is a Dutch image maker. Her work stems from a fascination with how we relate to things that differ from what is generally accepted. Belonging, questioning the norm, curiosity, and the power of imagination are central themes in her work. To show the fun and value of a different perspective, she plays with our image of reality. Her work is often a combination of – often staged or manipulated – photographs, collages and found footage.
