Lindsay Blamey

Lindsay Blamey
LIMINAL

Artist Statement:

Melbourne-based visual artist Lindsay Blamey is known for his fearless depictions of sublimity within the Australian landscape. Having grown-up in the open plains of rural Australia, Blamey so accurately captures the insignificance of man against the vastness of the Australian landscape through his photographic works. Blamey has long explored the metaphysical qualities of the landscape, analysing the intersections between rural and urban.

Drawing on his personal experiences of growing up in the open plains of rural Australia, Blamey’s latest body of work explores the theme of liminality. Although liminality has always been an aspect of Blamey’s practice, working during the COVID-19 lockdowns made the artist acutely aware of its role within his work. Blamey’s new exhibition, entitled Liminal, depicts thresholds; moments of time caught in the eye of transition and change.

Within the artist’s landscapes there is a distinct sense of stillness and silence. But most importantly, there is a sense of awakening. Blamey depicts a moment before great action and change. The artist captures the energy in the air, creating the sense that lightning, like change, can strike at any given moment.

There is no doubt that Blamey is a master of replicating the mood and energy of the surroundings he depicts. As we delve into his rural vistas, we can feel the electricity in the air, smell the humidity of rain falling in the distance, or feel the sun beating down on our necks. Within ‘Arrivals II’, a brooding sky of thick, dark clouds descends over a grassy plain. The immense scale and power of the clouds is amplified by a diminutive figure in the bottom of the composition, showcasing the triumph of nature over humanity, and the pre-eminence of the rural over the urban. Yet within the shadows, there is light; golden clouds glow with a biblical magnificence, radiating a sense of hope and cheerfulness.

Indeed, Blamey approaches liminality with an optimism and excitement. For many, liminality is often seen as uncomfortable as people struggle with periods of transition and change. The artist, however, believes there is a beauty to uncertainty, as we approach new beginnings and new stories. Possessing a calming stillness, the artworks transport the viewer to a place of transition, awaiting, and not knowing. These compelling works challenge the viewer to question the ‘what was’ and ‘what’s next’ as we encounter different thresholds in life. For Blamey, otherwise disorientating feelings of liminality are re-presented as opportunities to break free from old ways, and embark on new, albeit daunting journeys.

Blamey creates visceral and uniquely Australian atmospheres that pay homage to the sublimity and profundity of this awe-inspiring landscape. His strangely familiar worlds create narratives with the viewer that stretch far beyond the image edge and stay with you long after exposure. The artist’s palpable atmospheres fundamentally capture the beauty and complexity of liminality within both physical and emotional realms.

Written by Serena Cowie.