between somewhere and nowhere

26 October - 19 november , 2011

jill orr

Between somewhere and nowhere is Jill Orr's new photographic series. This body of work explores society's obsession with authenticity and further discusses photography as a means of illusion. We are surrounded by photographs which are based on false ideals or fictions and to some extent we accept them as truth.

The photographs exhibit a staged theatrical performance with dramatic scenes of ghost like figures emerging from a haunted wetland abyss. Elusive women wear costumes of lace and white linen while props such as canaries and canoes balance an ambiguous line
between gravity and humour. The ominous background fades into smoke, while bringing to your attention the artificiality of the scene. The photographs revel in the past, appropriating a macabre 19th century daguerreotype portrait.

Since the 1970's Jill Orrs work has grappled with psychological and environmental issues within contemporary society. Moving between performance art and photography, her works explain human intervention with the non-human environment. Orr's previous and significant works such as Bleeding Trees, Faith in a faithless land and Southern Cross: to bear and behold explore Australian history and culture in the context of the natural landscape.

There will be a catalogue available at the exhibition

Exhibition Images

Exhibition Images

Exhibition Notes

Whisper, 90x120cm, 2011, edition 1 of 5, inkjet print on archival silver crane rag

Swamp, 90x120cm, 2011, edition 1 of 5, inkjet print on archival silver crane rag

In the beginning, 120x90cm, 2011, edition 1 of 5, inkjet print on archival silver crane rag

Conjurer 2, 120x90cm, 2011, edition 1 of 5, inkjet print on archival silver crane rag