Frederik Buyckx

WOLF

Once upon a time we all used to live close to nature. But nowadays in our overdeveloped society we seem to have lost contact. Too fast it seems to me. We lost comprehension of what used to be our natural habitat not even that long ago. We feel at home in our concrete jungles, but once in the real outdoors we are like lost sheep, vulnerable and scared. I wanted to feel nature again in every possible way and to experience the force of its elements. Isolation is a key to getting as close as possible to this experience. Putting yourself in the most uncomfortable situation is what makes you use all your senses to their fullest. I met the people and animals that still depend on nature and at the same time have to cope with its unpredictable character. Together with them I experienced what it is like to live together with or against its forces. In search of isolation and wild nature I ended up in different corners of Europe. To find these areas I decided to follow the path of the wolf, a feared predator known for roaming through vast areas of wilderness. Strong but shy at the same time, the wolf doesn’t show itself often to others, but people and animals living in the same habitat fear him. His presence can be felt rather than seen. Following the path of the wolf, I rediscovered the wild nature and its inhabitants. Nature can be overwhelmingly beautiful and unpredictably harsh, but nothing ever felt more intense than being caught by beauty and anxiety at the same time.