Metropolis

As promised, I’m sharing another body of work from recent years (well, a selection of images from it). This one, Metropolis, followed on from "Ships in the Night" and was also made in 2018. It continues my ongoing exploration on the theme of isolation, a theme that has taken on a whole new meaning since I made this work. In any case, I’m not done with it!

This body of work was exhibited in 2018 at Yarra Sculpture Gallery as part of the Fresh 18 Group show. These and all of my fine art works are available in limited edition prints - get in touch via the Contact page if you’d like to know more.

Metropolis

I am drawn to cities and never tire of capturing their beauty, overt and hidden. There is a certainty in the symmetries, patterns, colours and forms that is familiar and comfortable.

The city holds great appeal for me yet I feel an imbalance.

As our cities grow and sprawl, so too does our sense of isolation and loneliness. The rural villages of connected communities have given way to vast metropolises of concrete and steel, overflowing with profoundly disconnected, lonely individuals. Disconnected from each other and from nature.

False Warmth, 2019

A few people have asked me lately where they can see the fine art series that I’ve made over the past few years. I thought I’d share some here. This series is False Warmth, which I made in 2019 over many cold winters nights in inner city Melbourne. Before Covid was a thing…

Personality facades. The masks people wear; the inauthentic versions of themselves they present to the world to hide anxieties, depressions and traumas.

Often these masks are developed in early years to protect from feelings of inadequacy, weakness or insecurity and are carried through into adulthood.

At night, when returning home, they take off their masks. Sometimes this brings relief and sometimes it makes space for the anguish and despair to rise. The safety of home can bring comfort from a cold world but it can also bring a deeper isolation, a false warmth.

No Left Turn - False Warmth, 2019

Lace - False Warmth, 2019

Through The Cracks - False Warmth, 2019

Post Box Corner - False Warmth, 2019

The Adjacent - False Warmth, 2019

Towing Service - False Warmth, 2019

Freeway home - False Warmth, 2019

Riots - False Warmth, 2019

Skeletons - False Warmth, 2019

Shamrock Store- False Warmth, 2019

Cutouts - False Warmth, 2019

Theresaville - False Warmth, 2019

Leaving - False Warmth, 2019

"Ships in the Night" in the time of Covid

It’s pretty quiet right now for a lot of small creative businesses and it’s no different for me, an architectural, interiors and fine art photographer. The beauty of having two parts to my practice is that when one part is quiet I can focus on the other. For the time being, while I’m not shooting on site much I’ve been reflecting on, planning and researching my fine art projects.

For the last three years or so years I have been making work about isolation and the reasons for its prevalence in our society. I’ve looked at it from many perspectives: environmental, societal, emotional and psychological. The research opportunities are fascinating and unending and I suspect I will continue to explore this idea for a long time.

In the first half of 2018, I made “Ships in the Night” which looks at Isolation in an urban environment. Little did I know back then just how apt it would become in the time of Covid, in 2020. It might not be exactly 1.5 meters I’ve depicted but it’s pretty close…

“I am drawn to cities and never tire of capturing their beauty, overt and hidden. There is a certainty in the symmetries, patterns, colours and forms that is familiar and comfortable. 

The city holds great appeal for me yet I feel an imbalance.

As our cities grow and sprawl, so too does our sense of isolation and loneliness. The rural villages of connected communities have given way to vast metropolises of concrete and steel, overflowing with profoundly disconnected, lonely individuals. Disconnected from each other and from nature.”

"Ships in the Night" for Immerse 2019

Immerse is an art exhibition that transforms the City of Knox into a living art gallery. Extraordinary art takes over every day spaces - inviting the public to encounter the unexpected.

1 – 29 September, 2019

Download the Immerse Program

Ships in the Night

I am drawn to cities and never tire of capturing their beauty, overt and hidden. There is a certainty in the symmetries, patterns, colours and forms that is familiar and comfortable. 

The city holds great appeal for me yet I feel an imbalance.

As our cities grow and sprawl, so too does our sense of isolation and loneliness. The rural villages of connected communities have given way to vast metropolises of concrete and steel, overflowing with profoundly disconnected, lonely individuals. Disconnected from each other and from nature.

Installation images by Samara Clifford. With thanks to Knox Art & Events

No brief, no intent, just seeing.

I love being behind my camera. It doesn't matter if I'm shooting for clients or for art - I love it. There is something special, however, about shooting for myself. No brief, no intent, just seeing. I like to do this between things to let of steam, if you like. I guess it is in lieu of international travel - this year anyway!

Bangkok. Finally.

I finally got around to sorting through my photos from last year's trip to Thailand. I've been to Bangkok a number of times over the past 10 years and there are a few things that I always notice. The first of those 'things' is colour. The unashamed, in your face, bright as can be, use of colour. T-shirts, taxis, umbrellas, buildings the list goes on. The Thai love colour. So do I.  

Isolation

Emerge 1st Edition / Group Exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery, 9th - 21st Jan 2018

ISOLATION
2017

Isolation. n. The condition of being alone, especially when this makes you feel unhappy.

At some time in their life, everyone will experience feelings of isolation. Some more than others and not always the ones you expect.

“Successful people are driven. They usually work harder, persevere longer, and bounce back from adversity faster than others. While some people are just natural go-getters, drive sometimes stems from hurt and pain. High achievement may temporarily mask a person’s heartache, but the anguish lurks just beneath the surface”. Amy Morin, LCSW