Aliyah Edwards

Alone in a house surrounded by friends, of the imagined variety, some call pretend. You swear on your life they are real and right there, others belittle, they laugh and they jeer. Once again off on a tangent, rambling and raving. Be kind, lend an ear, it’s attention you’re craving. As you repeat tales of the creatures you’ve spotted, then your mind swirling, you become besotted. Walls plastered with images in a plethora of cryptid collections, hoarded ephemera.

If You Believe In Me, I’m Real is intended to give the viewer a light-hearted look at the conspiratorially absurd and the pseudoscience of Cryptozoology, through multiple labour-intensive photographic works. Works which are both fabricated and performed, but can be considered “evidence” of the truth and existence of the subject matter.

Conceptually and over time, I created an ever-evolving story that grew with each creature. Constantly building on and welcoming others into my very own parallel reality.

The works allow for an eventful journey, through an immersive world, where cryptid creatures throw parties, watch TV, pose for pictures and don’t only come out at night. Engaging the viewer in a domestic story of humour.

This playful preternatural collection provokes conflicting emotional responses. Feelings of caution and curiosity, of being both uncomfortable and comfortable and the intrigue that comes from experiencing the weird and wonderful all at once. Whilst looking, not only at the subject matter but also the ideas behind and the collective belief in their existence.