NOMAD TWO WORLDS exhibition

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the NOMAD TWO WORLDS exhibition with my friend V-.The photography, film and art exhibition was put together my Russell James, a talented Australian photographer, who has been working with Native American and Australian artists since the 1990s. It is meant as an attempt to bridge and understand the cultural divide in today's society, especially in Australia.

I arrived at the exhibition with my friend without high expectations, having only quickly looked at its website the night before. Situated in an old factory, the high ceilings and dim lighting leant an air of magic to the venue. The pictures, in contrast, were alive with bright colours of blue, red and orange. James and his fellow artists seem to share a love for photographing water, since there were several pictures shot from beneath the sea's surface, capturing a model swimming with dolphins. Every photograph had its own story and their themes were closely linked to the Aborgines' spiritual beliefs of spirits and the Dreaming.

The second part of the exhibition showed behind-the-scenes footage of James  photographing in Australia and the way the Aboriginal culture impacted his life. I remember him describing being ill throughout the journey, as he wasn't used to the calm and open way of life in Australia any more, since he had gotten used to New York's hectic ways.

This, I think, was also what moved us most about the exhibition. Working on the photographs, James had experienced a different way of life and a different way of seeing the cultural differences in his native country. The way he captures these feelings in his his photographs isnuniquely touching. There is such power and depth to his pictures that tugs at the heart.

It does not ofteh happen that a photograph has the power to truly flip the way one looks at life to the other side, but NOMAD TWO WORLDS made it happen for me.


Love, x