Photography by Craig Proudford.
LUDLITES LOVE SPACE is an exhibition of lo-fi film photography, part of the Head On Photography Festival. Using photographic film and plastic lens such as the Holga and Diana, and sometimes pinhole cameras, 13 members of the Ludlite photographic collective, all leading photographic artists (12 Australians and 1 Canadian) have explored and interpreted the SPACE theme in a range of creative and unusual ways, with inspirations ranging from outer space to personal space.
These cameras have the ability to make multiple exposures on a single frame of film. This can be controlled but often the random nature of the lo-fi cameras produces quirky layered images. This is something that the Ludlites embrace as it perfectly suits their sci-fi and outer space inspired images, including some inspired by the music of David Bowie and Elton John. Other members of the collective have ‘space’ in very personal ways, addressing agoraphobia, aquaphobia, overcrowding and health matters.
With over 30 artworks showing in Sydney’s TAP Gallery, this exhibition demonstrates the special place this collective of lo–fi plastic lens users hold in the contemporary Australian art world. No other collective in the world maintains such an engaging and highly original approach to creating unusual photographic works using such low-tech cameras. Many Ludlites use plastic cameras as an antidote to constant digital perfection.
“Sometimes the worse my negatives turn out the more excited I am”, offers Ludlite Patrick Boland. “It’s nice to have a little unpredictability in your life. I encourage this by using expired film, hoping its ageing emulsion will take me somewhere new.”
The 13 Ludlites exhibiting in SPACE are: Natalie Blom, Patrick Boland, Katrina Crook, Steven Godbee, Tim Hixson, Carolinna Lee, Sally Mayman, Vanessa Power, Craig Proudfoot, Bradley Shaw, John Wallace, Yvette Worboys & Trevor Ydreos (Canada).
SPACE from the Ludlite Photographic Collective [Facebook], part of the Head On Photo Festival [Facebook] opens Saturday 5 May, from 5pm to 7pm at TAP Gallery.
To be opened by LISA FORREST – Olympian, Broadcaster, Author, Actor & Chief Life Officer at Evermind with the artist talk Saturday 5 May, 4pm.
The Ludlites dedicate this show to headspace. A percentage of works sold at the opening will be donated to the Brookvale branch of headspace and donations will be accepted to help the work of this important organisation which provides youth mental health services and support for Australians ages 12 to 25 and their families.