They are intriguing little glimpses into life, our lives. The miraculous in the mundane. And they are all created by Springwood photographer Robert Musgrave.
The ex-Winmalee High student has made photography his passion, since making a late-in-life career change in 2009, turning his back on his work as a graphic artist/printer.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the prestigious College of Fine Arts to his credit, the 44-year-old photographer has gone on to win multiple awards, including the Fisher’s Ghost Photography Award in 2015. He only finished his college art training at 41.
“If I was in the classroom a student from another class would come in and ask me questions and say ‘Excuse me, sir’,” he said laughing. “But it was something I always wanted to do – to study art,” Musgrave said.
“I think I got more encouragement in art [at high school] than any other subject. Communicating with pictures was easy for me. I’m always taking photos.”
Mr Musgrave’s first Blue Mountains exhibition opens on Tuesday [February 21] at Gallery one88 in Katoomba and runs until March 5.
The exhibition called Dark Ages also showcases the work of Katoomba photographer Alex Long and both bodies of work look back to the past for meaning while wondering what’s ahead.
Putting the black and white meditative photo series together has been “cathartic” for Musgrave, juxtaposing everything from a scowling child, to a mob of lambs, snow falling at night and birds in scattered flight.
“If you come to the show and you felt something and it reminds you of something, or you see yourself there, that’s a big win, I’d rather that than it be the most technically perfect photo.”
The work emanates from “dark places” today.
“Climate change, extreme nationalism, radicalism and poverty ... seem out of our control. I feel disconnected from those things and kind of helpless. That feeling inspired me, but I don’t think it’s directly in the photographs themselves. I can communicate a bigger idea with some photos.”
Curator Victor Peralta has called the exhibition “moving and emotionally mesmerising”.
“Through the viewfinder of true photographers eyes, the body of work will entice the viewer to question and contemplate how they see the world they live in Dark Ages – the time of unenlightenment”.
Gallery one88 is at 188 Katoomba Street, Katoomba and open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
Opening night for Dark Ages is February 25 from 7-9pm.
