nature – belinda allen

A pilgrimage

December 5, 2015February 18, 2018
by Belinda

In late November I reluctantly abandoned my convalescing husband, and travelled to Adelaide to visit my Mum and rest of the family in commemoration of my late sister Kate’s 40th birthday. Mum and I enjoyed a long-planned trip to visit the Grampians in Victoria – staying in Mt. Zero, a location where she and Kate had stayed many years ago. In spite of some wild and windy weather we had a poignant time revisiting the places she had been with Kate. Here is a record of the trip, including some images taken in another of Kate’s favourite places, the Belair National Park.

Coast 2014

January 8, 2015
by Belinda

Marlo - Snowy River mouth — Marlo – Snowy River mouth – dawn

In December 2014 we travelled along the NSW-Victorian coast, to:
Myer House – Bithry Inlet, Mimosa Rocks NP – a restored holiday house owned by Kenneth Myer and Roy Grounds, and donated to NPWS, now available for public rental.
Geelong and Melbourne visiting friends and galleries.
Camping along the coast from Port Albert via Marlo, Ben Boyd NP, Mimosa Rocks NP, and Murramarang NP.

Inspired by a workshop with the fabulous Shona Wilson, along the way I began to create some ‘ephemeral’ natural art images. Shona completed ephemeral art works one-a-day for a whole year, and I began to realise what a challenge this is. The ephemeral images I created are extremely simple, just rearranging a few items, or occasionally selecting a natural arrangement.

My favourite piece is this floating twig/cloud triptych from the lagoon at Marlo, at the mouth of the Snowy River.

Floating twig/cloud triptych - Marlo, Victoria — Floating twig/cloud triptych – Marlo, Victoria

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Gunyah mandalas

November 10, 2014
by Belinda

In 2006 I experimented with video using the technique I had already been using to create photographic nature mandalas. Gunyah mandalas videos were shot down at my local beach, and composed in Adobe After Effects. I expect that it’s all much easier now in iMovie etc 😉

This set was exhibited in the Blake Prize in 2006. After all this time I’ve finally put these online, in anticipation of having creative time over this summer to revisit video play 🙂

2013 art

Sacred sites … volume 2

July 27, 2013
by Belinda

Here’s the next in a set of portfolios of my photographic work produced over the last ten years. This one, Sacred sites: Exploration, has images composed from photos taken in exploring the Australian outback and bush over the last few years, combined with some song lyrics that have been inspired by my travels. Readings of the history of the settlement and exploration of Australia have influenced these works – this is further explored in my next portfolio, Wounded Country – stay tuned 🙂

All the portfolios can be purchased directly from Momento Shop (search for Belinda Allen).

2013 art

Sacred sites … the book

June 29, 2013
by Belinda

I have been wanting to try out photobooks for a while, but having looked at a few sites I didn’t like how clunky and inflexible the layout software seemed to be, and was concerned about the production quality. Then I found Momento Pro, which is a service for professional photographers and artists. I can use professional layout software (Adobe InDesign); the prices are higher, but the quality is amazing. So I have started to compile a set of portfolios of my photographic work produced over the last ten years. This one, Sacred sites: Royal National Park, has images composed from photos taken in the national park where I have lived for the last 23 years.

Check out a preview here where it can be purchased directly from Momento Shop 🙂

2009 welcome to country

Wounded country: 2001-2009

June 27, 2013
by Belinda

Compiling another of my portfolios, I’ve been revisiting my series ‘Wounded Country‘, which combines texts relating to the early Christianisation of Australia, with representations of archetypal Australian flora and fauna. In particular it uses the anthropomorphic forms and wounded skin of native angophoras as representative of the violence done to indigenous environment and culture. The images combine: photographs from the Royal National Park and other Sydney locations; texts and artefacts of early settlement; vintage book pages. These works were completed between 2001 and 2009.

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Tasmania sacred & profane

March 31, 2013
by Belinda

Although we visited Tasmania late in 2011, such is life that I have only recently been exploring the photographs taken there. It was a tantalising glimpse of an island with inspiring, changeable and atmospheric landscapes, as well as a brutal history. As a site for both the sacred and profane, it is well represented by the MONA collection of David Walsh. Here are some mandalas from this first visit, I hope to return later and spend longer.

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Aliens at HeadOn

April 16, 2012
by Belinda

Ghan Town 1 (from "The alien in our midst ...") © Belinda Allen

I’ll be showing some recent work, along with my partner in life and art Christopher Lawrie, at the upcoming Head On Photo Festival. The show – called “The alien in our midst … “ – opens on May 17 at Gaffa Gallery in Sydney.
Check out all the events coming up for the festival, which showcases work from many Australian artistic and commercial photographers.

2011 art

Tree of Knowledge

October 31, 2011
by Belinda

I am happy to announce that my work Tree of Knowledge from the History Trees series is selected for the 2011 Blake Prize Directors’ Cut Online Exhibition, and you don’t have to go anywhere to see it 🙂 Visit http://www.blakeprize.com.au/galleries/directors-cut?yr=2011&page=6 and scroll down to: Tree of Knowledge (exploration/orroroo).
Some of the other works are interesting too.
It will be online until the end of January.

2010 murray river

Murray River – State of Disease

May 15, 2010
by Belinda

January 2010 – Murray River near Loxton, South Australia; text from the Journals of Charles Sturt 1829-30, pages from the Australian Encyclopaedia 1927 (Irrigation).

murray1_stateofdisease — Murray River 1: State of Disease

link to images

Tag: nature