Genius Loci: A Visual Exploration on the Spirit of Place

Genius Loci

Latin (ˈdʒiːnɪəs ˈləʊsaɪ)

Noun

the guardian spirit of a place
the special atmosphere of a particular place.

My love for travel has kept me fascinated by the idea of genius loci for many years, so much so that I have made it the focal point of my work to capture the elusive spirit of a place. In an attempt to evoke the feelings that I’ve experienced in the places depicted in my photographs, I always come back to what genius loci means and what it is, this intangible quality that makes every place unique and inimitable.

Originating from classical Roman religion, genius loci refers to the protective spirit of a place. The Romans literally believed that a ‘genius’, or a ‘guardian spirit’ resides in everything and everywhere. While the way that we use the word genius loci in the 21st century is more about the atmosphere or character of a place, the underlying mythical and elusive quality of this word has remained.

In contemplating the nexus between both variations of the word, it dawned on me that they are actually one and the same — the atmospheric spirit of a place is inseparable from the guardian spirit of a place; by secularising the definition of the first sense of the word, the genius loci includes the guardians in human form — the people who serve as a place’s custodians. In expanding my exploration of this concept, I wanted to modernise the interpretation of genius loci – referring, beyond its original meanings, to the people looking after a historical and culturally significant place. In other words, I wanted to cast a light on the guardians and the conservators — the team passionately preserving the spirit of that place.

While I’m less of a wordsmith and more of a photographer, my intention is to use images as a vehicle to explore the concept of genius loci in all its different interpretations. I have chosen to shoot this project at the Sir John Soane’s Museum, the greatest Regency era architect’s home in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The choice was an easy one, as I remember vividly during my first visit many years ago that I felt moved, not only by the beauty and the aura of the house, but also the effort the team has put into protecting the spirit of this place.