'Nature': An exhibition by Nathan Ross

Media Release 7 September 2009

Reminder : “Nature”
An exhibition by Nathan Ross

“Nature” is an exhibition by Wellington-based photographer, Nathan Ross, showing at the Photospace Gallery, Wellington from the 18th of September.

The black and white images explore the tension between untouched nature and human encroachment through subjects from Wellington, throughout NZ and outback Australia.

Nathan uses a traditional large format camera (5x4 inch negatives) to create dreamlike images that mourn an environment under threat, but still retain a sense of optimism.

“We are used to images showing the environment as pure and untouched, but knowing what we know about climate change, threats to wildlife, deteriorating water quality, and other environmental problems, it’s impossible to take such images at face value."

Despite the serious theme underlying Nathan’s work, he enjoys the irony that sometimes results from the struggle between nature and human beings.

In ‘Abandoned House, for Reasons Unforeseen’, a windbreak set up to provide shelter ends up enveloping a house, making it unliveable. In ‘Barrel Flax (Phormium spp.)’, a 44-gallon drum appears to be the fruit of a flax, resulting in both pathos and humour.

“To me, these are more realistic landscape scenes,” Nathan says. “While there are plenty of remnants of untouched wilderness, we mostly live in competition with natural systems.

“That said, some of my works are about our positive relationships with Nature.

“Uluru [a.k.a. Ayres Rock] and Kata Tjuta [a.k.a. The Olgas] are central to Aboriginal relationships to the Earth, so that’s why I’ve included images of them in an exhibition here in Wellington. I was privileged to be at Uluru during heavy rain, so I could experience and capture some very rare scenes.”

Nathan was born and raised in Sydney. He has a Diploma of Photography and a Bachelor of Environmental Science. He moved to Wellington in 2005 and works on sustainable energy projects.

Exhibition details
* Photospace Gallery, Level 1, 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington.
* 18 September to 10 October 2009.
* Opening preview 5pm-7pm, Friday 18 September.

ENDS

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