Deborah
Clarke
Artwork 2002 - 07
Since coming to live in Alice in 2002 from Sydney, I have immersed herself in the landscape of Central Australia through painting, drawing and photography. This immersion has resulted in a flourishing of my art practice and more public exposure than I have ever had before:
My first solo exhibition here in Alice was in 2003 at Araluen, the regional gallery; entitled 'Shadowland' this exhibition of digital photographs explored my relationship to my new home and landscape through the shadow I cast on this new ground. In 2004 I was privileged to be selected to exhibit in the Alice Art Prize, a contemporary, national art award and have again been chosen to show in the Alice Prize in 2008. In 2005 I had my second solo show in the NT entitled 'tRust' at Watch This Space Gallery: this photographic exploration of surface degradation on abandoned vehicles remains a continuing theme in my work. This photogaphic work has also been been represented in various group exhibitions at Gallery Gonwana here in Alice over the last three years, and early in 2007 I exhibited at their Sydney gallery (see 'Skin' images immediately below). In May 2007 I had yet another solo show at Araluen called 'Boots & all' which paid tribute through drawings, paintings, photogaphy and poetry, to the five wonderful seasons I have walked and worked with Charlie on the Larapinta Trail. So life has been so full since i arrived here in the Centre, for me this 'desert' is very fertile ground.
Alongside my own artworking I have spent many years working as a freelance designer and illustrator for some of Australia's best known book publishers. I am also curently teaching Digital Imaging part time at Charles Darwin University in Alice Springs, and have created this website, spelling mistakes and all.
Below are images from the exhibition 'SKIN' March 07 at Gallery Gondwana, Dank St Waterloo, Sydney.
'Thylacine Mind ' 2007 |
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'Lake Lewis' |
'Infarction' tRust ‘tRust’ is a photographic exploration of disintegrating vehicles found abandoned in regional and remote locations in NT, SA and NSW. They are large ‘macro’ images of surface detail printed on canvas. These abstractions conjure up landscape, mirroring the cars location on a subtle level. They are often supported by smaller images of the cars in situ, printed on fine watercolour paper. These accompanying images embody the narrative element ... what is the ‘story’ of this vehicle and its abandonment? |
'3 Wishes ' Highly
Commended in the Advocate Art Awards Alice Springs 2007 |
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'Gidgee Budha' Shadowlands When
we photograph wilderness we generally seek to portray it as empty, wild
space, devoid of human presence, but we are always there. Occasionally
and generally by accident our shadow appears in the photo, a mistake.
In fact, it tells the truth of the situation. Every photograph is a
human moment. Every photograph holds the story of our connection, our
presence, in that place, at that time. |
'Rampart'
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Deb painting at Serpentine Gorge |
Deb photographing a car near Orroroo SA
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Deb working on her laptop and graphics tablet in Hugh Gorge |
'One wellspring many cups' This is how I view my creative practice. I paint, draw, photograph, write and work in the digital medium. I use whatever mode feels most appropriate for what I want to express or explore at that time. Sometimes this feels frustrating as perhaps my progess in any one medium is slow. So I enjoy the term 'practising artist' as I always seem to be practising...learning...experimenting. Each way of working informs the others, they are not seperate, they come from the same wellspring, served in different cups.
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'Ormiston
Creek 1' 2006 |
'Water in the rocks' 2007 |
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'Ormiston Synergy 1'
Highly Commended in the Advocate Art Awards 06 |
'2b below Euro Ridge' |
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'2b on Mt Sonder' |
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'BODY Map' from Boots & All exhibition Araluen Gallery Alice Springs |
'MIND Map' from Boots & All exhibition Araluen Gallery Alice Springs |
To view a selection of work by our Creative Camp participants click here
