Artist Mike Nelson: from cannabis to caravans

2010: Mike Nelson is currently showing at the 303 Gallery in New York. For this work, Quiver of Arrows, the artist welded together four vintage Airstream caravans, creating a compressed, dilapidated space in which to reflect on the American Dream ... Photograph: 303 Gallery, New York Photograph: guardian.co.uk The Airstream was an upmarket brand in a market doomed to the trailer parks. As such, according to the artist, it marks the 'the end of certain idea of a dream' Photograph: 303 Gallery, New York Photograph: guardian.co.uk Dating from between 1939 and 1968, the caravans contain all their original appliances. Nelson has added some decoration and infused the interior with a pervading smell of cinnamon Photograph: 303 Gallery, New York Photograph: guardian.co.uk Nelson explains that he is aiming for a sense of emptiness – or 'a sense of abandonment' Photograph: 303 Gallery, New York Photograph: guardian.co.uk 2007: This otherwordly installation has Nelson's longest title yet: Amnesiac Shrine, or The Misplacement (a Futurological Fable): Mirrored Cubes – Inverted – With the Reflection of an Inner Psyche as Represented by a Metaphorical Landscape Photograph: David Lambert & Rod Tidnam/Tate Photograph: David Lambert & Rod Tidnam, Tate /guardian.co.uk The Amnesiacs are a fictitious group of bikers, veterans from the first Gulf war, who have occasionally provided Nelson with inspiration for his artworks. Here, he has built them a shrine Photograph: David Lambert & Rod Tidnam/Tate Photograph: David Lambert & Rod Tidnam, Tate/guardian.co.uk Amnesiac Shrine was nominated for the 2007 Turner prize Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters Photograph: PHIL NOBLE/guardian.co.uk 2006: Mirror Infill at the Frieze Art fair in London. Expanding on one of his favourite motifs, that of the photography darkroom, Nelson created a photo lab installation that reflected the festival's commercial environment Photograph: Matts Gallery, London Photograph: Matts Gallery, London/guardian.co.uk 2005: For this installation, Spanning Fort Road and Mansion Street – Between a Formula and a Code, Nelson transformed an abandoned building in the seaside town of Margate into a cannabis farm, complete with hydroponics and spindly young plants Photograph: Matts Gallery, London Photograph: Matts Gallery, London/guardian.co.uk The artist in his studio Photograph: Eamonn McCabe Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/guardian.co.uk