Building more bridges… backbends in Europe
As I travelled Europe, my “bridge” art project was on my mind. As a result, some fun shots, some (of what I think are pretty) great shots, and some memorable stories that lie behind most of them (which I will have to tell some other day).
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Circles in the Land of Angles
THE CRAB – IN ENGLAND
I love learning where words come from. England, according to wikipedia, comes from the Old English Englaland, the “Land of the Angles”, the Angles being a German Tribes from the Middle ages. Learn something new every day – I always assumed it meant ‘my land” or something unoriginal like that.. you know, like the naming of all the monuments in Sydney: the “Harbour Bridge” for a bridge across the harbour, the “Opera House” for the theatre where opera is played , the “Centerpoint” tower for the tallest tower in the center of the city. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I mean, it does make sense even if its a little boring.
Anyway, back to the Circles in the Land of Angles…
These four shots are the latest to join my “Crab” series, taken during my July trip to Oxford and London in July.
Tower bridge, London
Farmoor Reserve, Oxfordshire UK
Some ruins near Oxford
Buckingham Palace
I was hoping to make it to Paris and get some shots in front of Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and go to Barcelona and Rome – but the peak holiday period made tripping around much less enticing… the South of France was lovely and I think I got another “crab” shot there but they’re buried in my files so I’ll have to save that for another story.
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Alchemy
Exhibiting at Manning Artspace, Sydney University – July 2009-December 2009.
The title of the series, Alchemy, was inspired by Paolo Cuelo’s The Alchemist; a four-part series taken over a three-month journey around South America. The first shot of the series was the one in Huacachina – sand dunes in the south of Peru. Not knowing yet quite what I was onto, I played around with the asana Urdhva Dhanurasana, also known as Chakrasana, Upward Bow, Wheel, Backbend or “The Crab” – which, seeing as my starsign is Cancer, is probably the most appropriate – in the salt-lakes of Bolivia, after a fashion shoot in Argentina and finally on the beaches of Brazil.
“Never stop dreaming”
Uyuni Salt Lakes, Bolivia
Standing on one cm of water on top of a lake of salt, these clouds surrounded me in every direction – it was the most breath-taking experience of my life. Levi Martins, one of the boys in my 4wd took this. I got a bit wet, slipping as I tried to stand up… but it was worth it. This shot represents to me the power of dreams, and the incredible way that everything you dream, everything you ask the universe for, will come true. Never stop dreaming.
“Everything in life is an omen”
Huacachina, Peru
As the sun was setting following an afternoon of sand boarding in dunes of Huacachina near Ica in the south of Peru, we dove off the mounds of sand, performing handstands, cartwheels and finally the driver of our buggy snapped this shot of me in what would soon become a signature pose. Looking for signs and following intuitions, allow us to connect to the thoughts and actions of ourselves and others’ past, present and future. These omens led me to Huacachina, and the omens uncovered in Huacachina, including this photo, had significant impacts on my trip and on my future. Everything in life is an omen.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.”
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Facilitated with an exchange of facebook details at a youth hostel, this shot followed a spontaneous fashion shoot with Columbian fashion photographer Gustavo Moreno. I stole the blue scarf from around my friend’s neck and inside the phonebook of a convenience store I created this fun little outfit and requested Gustavo to take this shot. Cars stopped (and tooted) and after many tries we got the shot (an my muscles ached for days!). This is my favourite of the series – I think because it was the most difficult to create. It is true that when you want something, anything, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.
Photographer: © 2009 Gustavo Tomás Moreno T. (YACO)
“He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had faith.”
Florianapolis, Brazil
Words cannot describe the appreciation that the Brazilians have for life. They smile, they laugh, and in their bright coloured clothes they walk as if music is pumping through their veins. At the beach, whether wealthy or homeless, people share the pleasures of warmth, water and sand; together clapping and cheering the sun’s final glorious moments as it retires for the day. Brazilians live in a way that seems much more connected with “God”, or the “Universal Soul”, the mysterious unknowns behind life, than most people I know. By living in the moment rather than worrying about what the next day will bring (whether by choice or default) the Brazilians’ energy, attitude and lifestyle represented to me the most beautiful expression of real deep faith. They have not a cent in their pockets, but they have faith.
For the exhibition I printed them to 15 x 40 inch (381 x 1016mm), mounted them on 9mm craftwood with black melamine edging and finished them off with a cold satin lamination. Wanting to spread the love I priced them at $240, and happy to sell them over the internet for the same price + postage costs.