Fauxliage

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Fauxliage documents the rise of disguised cell phone towers in the American West, where the fake foliage often draws more attention than intended. These humorous disguises mask the towers' true purpose: collecting phone calls and digital data for advertisers and government storage. Initially seen as eyesores, cell towers were camouflaged with plastic leaves, evolving from simple palms and evergreens to elaborate forms like flagpoles, crosses, water towers, and cacti. As our demand for connectivity grows, this charade continues. Initially intrigued by their whimsical appearances, I became increasingly uneasy about how technology stealthily alters our environment. My photographs reveal the towers' quirky disguises, showcasing their diverse forms and prevalence in our lives. They have become an unavoidable aspect of the iconic western road trip across the eight states I explored for this project. With the rollout of fifth-generation (5G) cellular technology, the landscape of cell towers is set to change. 5G employs smaller equipment that can be more easily concealed, potentially leading to the decline of these elaborately disguised towers, which may come to be seen as relics of the early 21st century, alongside other outdated architectural features.