Unforgiven

Unforgiven is a photographic series by Michael Macpherson inspired by Celtic mythology and Faerie lore. The work follows the imagined journey of a forsaken deity who has been cast out and forgotten. She passes through darkness and stasis before moving towards renewal.

Descent

Set within a heavy, foreboding landscape, the figure first appears vulnerable and isolated. She enters the underworld, or Annwyn, where the surrounding darkness begins to overwhelm her. As the sequence unfolds, the body moves through states of surrender, protection and awakening.

A foetal form rests within the landscape, enclosed by the earth itself. This moment suggests pause, shelter and the release of what has gone before. Later, the tree of life, or Axis Mundi, becomes a conduit between the underworld and the upper world. Through it, energy and consciousness begin to return.

Renewal

In the final stages of the series, darkness no longer contains the figure. Her body reaches, rises and moves towards new life. The landscape remains powerful, yet it no longer dominates her.

Through the relationship between the nude figure and the natural environment, Unforgiven explores exile, vulnerability, transformation and rebirth. The photographs unfold as a symbolic journey rather than a literal story. As a result, they leave space for viewers to interpret the work through their own experience.

Michael photographed the series on film and printed the images in a traditional wet darkroom. The silver gelatin process gives the works deep blacks, a rich tonal range and a strong tactile presence. It also reinforces the timeless, mythic quality of the narrative.

Ultimately, Unforgiven presents transformation as a gradual passage from isolation towards renewal. Its staged sequence and mythic imagery suggest that rebirth begins not with escape, but with a return to consciousness.

CREDITS

Artist
Michael Macpherson

Exhibition
DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, Group exhibition, Maud Gallery 2026

Medium
Silver Gelatin Print, Archival selenium toned with archival matting and professionally framed

Dimensions 640 x 540 mm
$650 unframed, $1000 framed, full framed series $4500

Enquiries
For purchase enquiries, please contact  Maud Gallery, quoting the artwork title.