Gisele Silman
Killara High School
MOMENTS YOU'VE MISSED
Photomedia
Colour photographic prints on rag paper
The repetitive nature of the standard modern lifestyle means the large majority of people adhere to a particular routine that misses out on the transient beauty of natural skies. In projecting morning sunrises onto window curtains and blinds, my body of work represents the beauty and variety of different sunrises in contrast with the constant and unchanging interiors of the modern world. Using this multilayered photography form I was able to display these sunrises in everyday environments and rooms. My intent was to demonstrate to the audience the importance of including an appreciation of natural beauty in one's life.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Galen Rowell, JMW Turner.
Marker's Commentary
This evocative series of photographs explores the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of moments that cannot be repeated. It highlights the beauty of the world beyond our familiar and internal spaces. The images are carefully chosen and projected in a cinematic manner onto softly lit domestic settings. Natural lighting at dawn and dusk creates dramatic effects, with vast cloudscapes in the photographs recalling the twilight impressionist paintings of Australian Heidelberg school artist David Davies. These cloudscapes evoke a romantic experience of nature, often seen in Australian art history and are suggestive of Robyn Stacey's camera obscura technique. Compositional elements extend the theme of empty landscapes, connecting the projected cloudscapes to the confined built environments and domestic settings.
The photographs capture the glow of sunset and highlight the dramatic colours to reference the transient qualities of nature. Framed within a blackened room, the imagery becomes a moment of wonder for the viewer. But unlike fleeting moments, it remains stationary as we have controlled the elements for our own pleasure, stopping time, as these moments are overlooked in the natural world. The deliberate placement of the images adds a theatrical element to the series, with the rippling of fabric with visible folds and pleats creating a sliced and re-joined image, enhancing the illusion of movement like a lenticular photograph. Through careful selection, projection techniques, and references to artistic traditions, the photographs create a sense of wonder inviting the audience to contemplate moments of beauty that are both ethereal and beyond our control.