Hunter Mathews
Stay naked
"Stay Naked" explores the connection between people and nature. I document how queer people spend their time in nature, often in their most primal state. Capturing snapshots of a fantastical life lived outside of space and law. I focus on liberation, comfort, curiosity, and solitude. The happiest moments have been spent in these settings, with these people–friends, family, lovers, and strangers. Liberated from the constraints of societal norms, they are one with the earth. A poignant connection exists between being isolated in nature and returning to one's younger and true self. They embody a sense of contentment and curiosity; as their figures seamlessly blend into the scene behind them, they become one with their environment. Their queerness is welcomed by the spaces they are in and the company present. A great sense of comfort is felt in these spaces. The earth welcomes our nakedness. I document the special moments we share with the planet, reminding us that we can play and rest peacefully.
Hunter Mathews is a New York-based documentary analog photographer. Her work incorporates fine art principles while drawing from memory, the natural world, and paintings. She utilizes darkroom techniques and other archival processes to reinforce her vision. Capturing the raw beauty she experiences, as she experiences it, she brings the viewer on a journey through her life: the mundane and extraordinary. She sees her life as sequential moments, recording each she finds significant. She is currently working on a project regarding the underground fight scene in New York City. Mathews is an archivist for Joel Meyerowitz and assists Gesche Würfel on The Absence and Presence of the Berlin Wall, and Slave Dwellings. She interned for Deadline at the Festival du Cannes 2024.