Stefan Frutiger
San Diego photographer Stefan Frutiger explores impact of human alterations in the American West. He shows how minuscule humans are in the vast desert landscape, yet how many permanent traces we leave. Stefan shows decay caused by anthropogenic changes and researched the conflict in multi-use of public land.
Stefan's most recent project Sacred Land, Scarred Land is a critical investigation into landscape alterations, environmental concerns and impact on the local community caused by uranium mining between 1944 and 1969 on Navajo land near Monument Valley. Mining waste was removed in remediation efforts. The clean-up, however, is ongoing, slow, and continuously underfunded. Permanent scars remain visible in the landscape, land that is sacred to the Navajo Nation. Burials, springs, and ceremonial places were desecrated and permanently destroyed. Low radiation tailings from uranium mines and mills continue to contaminate air, soil, and water. Stefan documented the legacy of uranium mining and juxtaposes the invisible threat with world-renowned rock formations.
In 2022 Stefan received an MA in Photography from Falmouth University. Stefan grew up in Switzerland. His early work was influenced by Swiss fine art photographer Reto Camenisch. The nearby desert in Southern California became Stefan's preferred place for research and visual documentation.
