Perch Portrait
Dark Room, Canberra
In restrospect, this photographic series should have probably been called Perch Pawtraits.
Artists were invited to respond to the theme of perfect (20/20) vision in the year 2020 by creating new works for a collaborative group exhibit between Photo Access and Gallery of Small Things (GOST) Canberra. GOST is run by beautiful creative Anne and is the smallest gallery in Australia. The gallery is located in Watson and has wonderful handmade gifts for yourself or for others, year round.
‘Perch Portraits’, a personal passion project into documenting moments of eye-catching Felines in Australian neighbourhoods, through windows. The work was about a continual learning experience with dual subjects which are light and cats.
This body of work allowed me to explore light and play with reflection, in all conditions. By being able to blend what seemed like a straightforward subject; cats, and reflection from their outside environment, I was able to really capture a unique composition of these subjects in a surrealist yet documentary manner.
Cats are highly inquisitive subjects and their personalities really show through their eyes and these subjects are very enthralled by light and movement. With each image I paid particular attention to try and draw the viewer to the cats eyes. I believe that the collection met the criteria of the perfect 2020 vision, both conceptually and in physical form. You have a vision into what these cats see from their respective perches every day by looking at the surrealist reflections they are framed by.
Shooting with 35mm film allowed for an extra element of magic. The development processes and hand printing each photograph, allowed for no two prints to be precisely alike and this means that every piece of art remains unique. With this ongoing project I have created keepsake records for any feline lover.
