Detail of “Passing through” © Rob Allen 2019; Right: Detail of "Hoofprints in the sand” © Adrian Ashman 2020.
IMAGINED BOUNDARIES
Rob Allen and Adrian Ashman
Humans characteristically set boundaries around their physical, social, and conceptual environments. In this exhibition, we question the need for those artificial divisions. We chose an area of 50 kms around Stanthorpe as our playground. This rough circle crosses state and local government areas and allowed us to harvest images from the abundance of wild and settled environments.
Significantly, there are also artificial partitions around media and genre in the visual Arts. Imagined boundaries casts aside those divisions and establishes an equal partnership of brush and electronic sensor in a celebration of mutual purpose and shared contribution. This partnership creates some challenges, as it is not as straightforward as presenting a single-medium collection of works. Our challenge is to be faithful to the natures of the two media, recognising their characteristics, and ensuring that the contributions inspired by each location make a coherent statement about a locality or tell a plausible story.
I’m genetically predisposed. Almost from birth, I drew. In childhood, I painted. By early adulthood, I began with clay. All feed and excite me. Influences have been diverse; I continue to absorb them almost unconsciously. I attempt to integrate; the process is slow. Some of it sticks. My work is represented in private collections in Australia, the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the US and Canada.
Rob Allen
I developed and printed my B&W film until the late 1990s when I made the transition to digital photography. I’ve exhibited with another photographer several times and my last show was a sole three years ago. From time to time I have an “Open studio” to expose my latest creative leanings to close friends and family. My photography is represented in private collections in several Australian states, in the ACT, and in Canada, the USA, and the United Kingdom.
Adrian Ashman
Artist Talks
Rob & Adrian are presenting a number of talks during the exhibition - check our Events page for full details.