The Modern Image, An Exhibition

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Posted 2016-10-06 by Paula McManus ⇒ follow

Thu 06 Oct 2016 - Sun 27 Nov 2016

The Modern Image exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia is a wonderful showcase of the photographic works of three female South Australian born photographers. The works cover the years from the 1910s to 1930s.

The photos on display were taken both locally and overseas and are a fantastic collection of images of Hans Heysen-esque landscapes, snow scenes from Europe, London at nighttime and a most beautiful ballerina portrait.

Gwendolyn Morris (1904 to 1993), Esther Baylis (1898 to 1990) and Joyce Waterhouse (1887 to 1996) were all local women from wealthy families. Their photographic works were inspired by their educational training and studies to create wonderful imagery that are now more than a century old.

Much of Gwendolyn's printed works were taken in London while she was working as a photographer at the BBC. She spent many hours taking photos of the locales of Covent Garden, the Strand and Trafalgar Square, often returning at night with her camera to capture the areas in a different light.

As a qualified architect, the lines, light and abstract angles of her trade show through in Esther Baylis's photos. Her passion with photography started with a Box Brownie camera. She went on to set up a dark room at her parents home and became a member of the Adelaide Camera Club where she exhibited many photos with great success. This eventually led to the Art Gallery purchasing some of her photographs. She was the first Australian female photographer to be represented in an Australian public collection.

And, Joyce Waterhouse obviously loved nature and Australian landscapes. Her photos in the exhibition were taken in and around the Adelaide Hills and in the Flinders Ranges . She was a member of the Australian Photographic Society and took photos all of her life.

The Art Gallery of South Australia was one of the first museums in the world to recognise photography as an art form in its own right and started to collect photographic works as early as the 1920's.
The Modern Image exhibition is currently on show at the Art Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace in the city. It is free to view and is on display in Gallery 8 until the 27th of November 2016.