Edward Burtynsky: Australian Minescapes

Some 20 or so large format colour digital C-type prints make up this travelling exhibition from Western Australian Museum. Burtynsky captures astounding scenes in these industrial landscapes. Some of the compositions are quite other worldly as the panoramic birds-eye views create abstracted forms resembling lunar landscapes or expressionistic paintings rather than photographs.

Burtynsky travelled in a helicopter to obtain these aerial views. The result is a riveting look at man-made gorges, abstract scenes of a land cut open revealing the earth’s stratigraphy like a layer cake, massive upside-down pyramids of the Super Pit #4 at Kalgoorlie and the painterly abstraction of Tailings #1 and Silverlake Operations #15.


Tailings #1 2007, Kalgoorlie WA, Chromogenic Colour print

While all of the images are spectacular, a real standout is Super Pit #4. The photo also provokes thoughts about how comparatively insignificant the boom town appears perched next to the pit's perimeter, ironically showing how massive our industrial footprint is at the same time. The sheer scale and detail captured in one shot is reminiscent of the panoramic mastery of Melvin Vaniman a century before.

These minescapes were a Foto Freo (City of Fremantle Festival of Photography) commission coming off the renowned international reputation of Burtynsky’s previous series, Shipbreaking in Bangladesh (2000) and Shipbuilding in China (2005). ACP in fact shows a few photographs from these series in the adjoining gallery. The continued ‘industrial wastelands theme’ is also complimented by a stirring audio visual presentation of yet another body of work called the China Series. This series shows the decrepit landscapes of rubbish tips, derelict houses and city demolition sites, alongside oil mines, massive road networks and hundreds of factory workers going about their business.

Overall the images of production and destruction, progression and regression are juxtaposed to great effect. Better be quick to catch this one!


17 July – 22 August 2009
Free entry
Tuesday – Friday 12:00 – 7:00pm every day
Saturday and Sunday 10:00am – 6.00pm

Australian Centre for Photography (ACP)
Oxford Street
Paddington NSW 2021
www.acp.org.au

Andy Summers - Desirer Walks the Streets

"A dark stream of black and white photographs that are culled from Any Summers' life as a travelling musician"

You may, at first, assume these 40 photos highlight the illustrious guitarist's glamorous touring schedule with the Police. But rather than images of a footloose and fancy free, rock 'n' roll life-style, the images document a more solitary, personal and somewhat 'rear window' view of Andy's everyday experiences and encounters.

The archival silver gelatin prints are dark but subtle, moody, soft and alluring. His subjects, whether people or places, are the focus of the compositions and often expose an eccentricity, which may reveal as much about the artist as the quirky situations depicted. There is no doubt Summers is a talented photographer with an eye for interesting compositions and spontaneity. From Cowgirl, San Francisco, 1982, showing ornate boots poking from the foot of the bedcovers, to Monk, Tokyo, 2008 depicting a wise man enjoying a cigarette, Summers seems to capture candid moments with ease as he wanders, a voyeur amongst both his familiar subculture and unfamiliar cultural landscapes abroad.

With concurrent exhibitions in Santa Monica (and previously in April in Tokyo) you'd best be quick to snaffle one of these prints as they are very limited editions of 10 worldwide. Prices vary on the edition but overall later editions fetch higher prices up to $3,950. Don't let the commercial gallery presentation deter you from checking out this exhibition, it's well worth seeing an alternative view outside the life of a roving rock star.

...if you so desire!


4-30 June 2009
Blender Gallery
16 Elizabeth Street Paddington
http://www.blender.com.au/
Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 6pm