A new exhibition at The Glasshouse titled Silence and Solitude: selected works from Eastern Interiors explores the paths of colonial explorers in the Blue Mountains.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Media artist Nicole Welch uses photography and time-lapse video to convey to audiences a sense of history and reflective culture using landscapes.
“My exhibition is a selection of works which follow the path of colonial explorers in the Blue Mountains,” Ms Welch said.
“All my pieces feature and antique mirror as a metaphor for reflecting on the past using iconic landscapes in New South Wales.
“All the images are shot on location in the Blue Mountains and I really enjoy connecting with the landscapes I photograph.”
Her exhibition opens to the public on October 13 and coincides with another exhibition by Jason Wing which opens at the same time and explores similar themes around colonial history albeit from an Indigenous perspective.
“The placement of the mirror as a connecting image across the exhibition is symbolic of history and perception, and is an invitation to the viewer to reflect on the numerous historical paradigms that inform our present day relationship to country,” she said.
“For me it is not enough to just take a photo of a landscape. I want to connect and tell the story of what this landscape has seen and how it plays into our history.”
In the exhibition there is also a time-lapse video which Ms Welch said represents navigation through time.
“The time-lapse video is of the stars and is a reflection of celestial navigation. For thousands of years explorers used the moon and the stars to navigate and I really wanted to show that as well in the exhibition,” she said.
On Saturday, October 13, Ms Welch will be giving an artist talk in the gallery at The Glasshouse and is inviting the community to come.
“With the Port Macquarie-Hastings region celebrating its bicentenary it is a great time to come and see the gallery as both Jason Wing and I will be talking about colonial history and how our exhibitions tie into that.
“I will be talking about my work and how I go about creating my works on locations and people will be able to ask questions.
“Port Macquarie holds a special place in my heart as I have come on holidays to the region for the last 20 years. To think about me at 13 and me now exhibiting here is quite special.”
Nicole Welch’s Silence and Solitude: selected works from Eastern Interiors will be on display from October 13 to December 2.
She will also be hosting a free meet the artist talk on October 13 at 11am.
