Roseless
DENISSE ARIANA PÉREZ
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Denisse Ariana Pérez’s latest series ‘Roseless‘ is a poignant reflection on environmental change. Capturing the stark transformation of Senegal’s once-vibrant pink lake, these striking images blend documentary and performance art to explore themes of loss, resilience, and human impact. Through the use of pink paint, harsh and unforgiving scenes, as well as floral elements, the artist sets the lake’s former brilliance against the current reality, the destructive force of humanity. Highlighting that whilst nature may pay a heavy price in the short term, humanity is clearly also vulnerable to the effects of its actions.
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“Lac Rose is an iconic pink lake in Senegal, or rather, it used to be. I photographed this extraordinary landscape in 2020 as I was photographing for my first monograph, AGUA. I returned in 2024 to this place, hoping to revisit the landscape I had once fallen in love with. However, to my surprise, the lake had lost its rosy hue due to heavy flooding, deforestation, housing developments, and urban sprawling.
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It was heartbreaking to see this once magical place look like an apocalyptic scene, full of garbage, the skeletons of wooden boats, abandoned souvenir shops, and photo props intended for visitors to take Instagrammable photos around the lake. Today, the Lac Rose felt like a somber reminder of commodification and environmental negligence.
In this photo series, I decided to bring pink back to the lake through artistic symbols. I used paint and makeup in different shades of pink and flowers to emulate the vibrant presence the lake once had. In the images, you can see the stark contrast between the painted skin of the models and the now greenish tone of the water. I wanted to illustrate how it was up to us, the people, to bring life back to the lake.”
— Denisse Ariana Pérez, 2025
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Denisse Ariana Pérez: Roseless no.01, 2024
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Denisse Ariana Pérez: Roseless no.02, 2024
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Denisse Ariana Pérez: Roseless no.10, 2024
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Denisse Ariana Pérez: Roseless no.11, 2024
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Denisse Ariana Pérez: Roseless no.14, 2024
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Denisse Ariana Pérez: Roseless no.15, 2025
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