There is an abandoned tuberculosis sanatorium that has been left to decay since the late 1990s in Columbia, SC. As a photographer, I was drawn to the idea of exploring the history and decay of this place, which has had minimal human interaction and maintenance throughout the years. Through numerous trips to the sanatorium, I delved deeper into its past and uncovered its rich history. "Walk Away" depicts a sense of disorientation and uncertainty, mirroring the emotions I felt while being there. Some of the images, such as "Abandon All Hope" and "Walk Away," suggest that this place was not, to any, a happy one.
This work allowed me to immerse myself in the emotional weight of an abandoned location with a complicated past. My inspiration for this project came from The Proper People, a group that produces videos exploring abandoned locations. When I stumbled upon the sanatorium, I knew immediately that it was a subject that would make for a strong and meaningful body of work. In addition to its history, the sanatorium represents a powerful parallel to our present, which also faces uncertainty, decay, and emotional weight.
