The Kosciusko bushfires of 2003 ravaged the NSW Snowy Mountain region leaving a hauntingly beautiful landscape. Leafless, white trunked trees left abandoned, stripped by the wind, bleached by the sun, stranded in silence. The stark landscape populated by ghosts, a reminder of resilience and impermanence in both the human condition and the natural environment.
The Australian landscape’s ability to recover from the devastation of bushfire is legendary. However, recovery takes time, but not all survive. Sydney photographer, David Starr, has documented the area over past three years to create an exhibition which explores the impact of decimation and time on a landscape; the space in between death and life.
Through the medium of photography and soundscape, David Starr challenges contemporary culture’s unease with the conversation around death. This exhibition elevates the two great certainties of existence – life and death and asks the question, ‘can there be beauty in death?’
David Starr is a professional photographer born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1964. His first group exhibition in 1996, surveyed androgynous forms of nudes and flowers Trained as a film photographer, David began working with transparency and negative film and transitioned to digital media in 2008. He has created ten solo exhibitions have explored nature, the female nude, Australian landscapes and European cities.
Submit your work to be considered for solo or group exhibitions in Head On Photo Festival. The last day to submit work is Sunday, 23 March.
Work up close with two of Australia’s pre-eminent photographers, explore regional Australia from a unique viewpoint, meet new people and develop your photographic practice!