Finding Sacred Space Catalogue of the Fine Art Photographic Series By David B Simmonds
Finding Sacred Space Explorations of Public Space Architecture Catalogue of the Fine Art Photographic Series By David B Simmonds
This series explores the profound contribution public spaces can make to our states of mind. It explores the idea that great buildings create an experience of beauty and space that can take us to a place of personal sanctuary. These images of public space interiors call the viewer to feel their harmony of space, form, line and light. This combination of qualities is what I call “sacred space”, regardless of a building’s size or purpose, whether it be secular or sacred, period or contemporary. We’re reminded to slow down a moment from life’s incessant demands, and absorb how the physical space and quality of light can shift us, even briefly, from doing to being. We’re encouraged to see with new eyes, to imagine lying on your back in the middle of these public spaces, gazing and floating upwards until surrounded by the beauty of these domes and ceilings, imagining how our senses absorb the serenity and luminous spaciousness. My prints are deliberately large. These are vast spaces and when viewed up close we are confronted with that in an intimate way which, I hope, invites us to surrender to an altered experience. In the words of the philosopher, Alain de Botton, such spaces “speak to us of the highest hopes we have for ourselves...we can come close to a state of mind marked by integrity and vitality. We can feel inwardly liberated. We can, in a profound sense, return home.” [The Architecture of Happiness, Penguin 2007, page 119] All works are limited edition pigment prints on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta paper.
Left: Finding Sacred Space #07 (333 Collins Street) - A Harmony of Space
Finding Sacred Space: The Exhibitions Finding Sacred Space was first exhibited as part of the Fringe Programme of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in 2011. It was exhibited again later that year in Melbourne at the Clement Meadmore Gallery.
What People Said About This Work “Your images are so beautiful, subtle yet very powerful”. “Glorious, uplifting work.” “Technically and visually breathtaking.” “Exquisite.” “Alchemical, wondrous, magical.” “Powerful sacred spaces. Beautiful.” “Reminds me of Andreas Gursky. Incredible exhibition collection.” “David, congratulations on a most rich, cohesive and brilliantly hung body of work. I enjoyed seeing it on many levels of perception. I look forward to seeing more of your expansive vision in the future!” (17/11/2011) Dianna Gold (Dianna Gold Fine Arts) “In this exhibition of architectural space, David B. Simmonds has found that which is eternal, imposing and as the name of his collection suggests, sacred. Not only is this notion embedded in the awe inspiring constructed environments David has captured, but it is clearly present in the emotional resonance that these images provide to the viewer. Whilst it is challenging and indeed entertaining to try to determine which familiar buildings have been illustrated in this work (before one looks at the title), their power comes not from the actuality of the architectural constructions – although this indeed is powerful. Rather it comes from the spiritual engagement these images trigger with the viewer. An engagement that is formed via the heartfelt resonance offered through the work. Offered in the first instance by the architect responsible for the building design, but most importantly with regard to this exhibition, by the manner through which David has re-interpreted particular aspects of these buildings. A reinterpretation that seduces, beguiles, and enthrals the viewer. David’s large scale, geometrically ordered and beautifully designed photographic constructions provide the ability for us to enter into these personal sacred spaces – and it is indeed a wonderful journey” (11/11/2011) Dr Les Horvat (Previously academic director at RMIT & Photography Studies College). “...[contemplating] the current trend toward reality art - the reality of painting and photography that sometimes took away beauty - these works were the opposite they took you from every day reality of the city building you run past, or through, into a new dream for that space ...” (22/11/2011) Gallery Girl aka Andy Dinan, MARS Gallery.
Finding Sacred Space: Current List of Works Since 2011, I have added two more images to this series, and have another in progress. This series calls to me as an ongoing exploration and I have plans to continue this body of work over many years drawing from public spaces more widely throughout Australia and overseas.
(#01) Government House (1999) (#02) 8 Exhibition Street, The Herald & Weekly Times Building (2006) (#03) 101 Collins Street Foyer (2011) (#04) Royal Exhibition Building (2011) (#05) ANZ Gothic Banking Chamber (2011) (#06) ANZ Stock Exchange Chamber (2011) (#07) 333 Collins Street (2011) (#08) T & G Banking Chamber (2011) (#09) Shrine of Remembrance (2011) (#10) Car Park II (2011) (#11) St Kilda Shule (2015) (#12) Sofitel Hotel (2015)
Finding Sacred Space #12 (Sofitel Hotel) by David B Simmonds 2015 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1000mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 500mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #11 (St Kilda Shule) by David B Simmonds 2015 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1000mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 500mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #10 (Car Park II) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1630mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 (Next available is Edition 3) 1222mm x 750mm: Edition of 15 (Next available is Edition 2) 759mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #09 (Shrine of Remembrance) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1000mm x 1522mm: Edition of 5 750mm x 1142mm: Edition of 15 500mm x 761mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #08 (T & G Banking Chamber) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1000mm x 1100mm: Edition of 5 500mm x 550mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #07 (333 Collins Street) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1000mm x 1322mm: Edition of 5 750mm x 992mm: Edition of 15 500mm x 661mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #06 (ANZ Stock Exchange Chamber) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1518mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 1140mm x 750mm: Edition of 15 759mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #05 (ANZ Gothic Banking Chamber) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 2455mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 1228mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #04 (Royal Exhibition Building) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 2374mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 1187mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #03 (1O1 Collins Street) by David B Simmonds 2011 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1500mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 1125mm x 750mm: Edition of 15 750mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #02 (8 Exhibiton Street, The Old Herald & Weekly Times Building) by David B Simmonds 2006 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 2780mm x 1000mm: Edition of 5 1390mm x 500mm: Edition of 15
Finding Sacred Space #01 (Government House) by David B Simmonds 1999 Pigment Print, HahnemĂźhle Fine Art Baryta 1000mm x 1522mm: Edition of 5 750mm x 1142mm: Edition of 15 500mm x 761mm: Edition of 15
David B Simmonds: Artist Biography B. 1954, Umtali, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). I emigrated to Australia with my family when 9 years old, and grew up in Perth. My father, a builder with the eye and heart of an architect, fostered my love of architectural forms. My passion for photography grew out of a childhood hobby and became a full time career. Along the way I discovered artists like David Hockney, Jeffrey Smart and Picasso, and photographers like Bert Stern, Pete Turner, Edward Weston, Gregory Crewdson, and Andreas Gursky who inform and support my own creative visions. The theme that tracks through my body of work across the years is the built environment; the drama and beauty of its graphic lines and abstracted forms. More recently this has evolved into an exploration of how we might shift our everyday perceptions of our urban and industrial world beyond the habitual and mundane ways of our everyday lives. By bringing curiosity, and by exploring unique viewpoints, I ask what other ways of seeing might be possible, encouraging a dynamic interplay of relationship between ourselves and our built environment (e.g. the series Finding Sacred Space in a Secular World). This notion has been further extended into large-scale visual story-telling, expanding CartierBresson’s notion of the single decisive moment and using digital layering techniques to explore how multiple decisive moments can be compressed into a single coherent image. Architectural integrity is integral to my compositions, providing a strong containing structure and foundation of believability for each image, even though these are highly constructed scenes (e.g. the series Melbourne 10,800 and Life@648K) These images do more than document in the traditional sense, they tell a larger story of community and place, a story of collective experience. They are a choreography of many lives and moments, composed to retain a sense of naturalness and spontaneity. When you look deep into these images you see the many personal interactions and expressions (a touching of hands, a passing glance etc) that is the human fabric in a large-scale environment.
Artist Website www.davidbsimmonds.com
Corporate Art Website www.lightlinespace.com
All works in this catalogue Š David B Simmonds 1999-2016
David B Simmonds: Artist CV Education: B. Arts (Photography) with distinction (RMIT) 2005 Works in Collections: Museum of Victoria: Melbourne In Spires BIG Picture Collection; State Library of Victoria: Melbourne In Spires Limited Edition of Fine Art Architectural Calendars 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997; Photography Museum of Lishui (China) permanent collection. Corporate Collections: Silver Top Taxis HQ, Wyndham on William, Federation Square, Heidelberg Australia, McLean Delmo, Fender Katsalidis Architects, 1O1 Collins Street, Playbox Theatre (and others). The Australian Photographer’s Collections: Volumes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 Solo Exhibitions: 2015 Sitting in the Dark (Victorian Arts Centre); 2015 Finding Sacred Space/ Last Pas de Deux (COPACC); 2013 The Last Pas de Deux (Fringe @ Ballarat International Foto Biennale); 2011 Finding Sacred Space in a Secular World (Clement Meadmore Gallery & Fringe @ Ballarat International Foto Biennale); 2004 Light, Line and Space (Federation Square); 2000 Melbourne In Spires BIG Picture Exhibition (Melbourne Docklands); 1996 Melbourne In Spires BIG Picture Exhibition (Melbourne Town Hall Gallery); 1994 Melbourne In Spires BIG Picture Exhibition (1O1 Collins Street, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts); 1990 Sitting in the Dark (CUB Malthouse/Playbox Theatre); 1982 Rock ’n Roll (Olympic Park, Melbourne); 1977 International Year of the Child (Adelaide) Group Exhibitions: 2013 Lishui International Photography Festival, China; 2011 Photography Museum of Lishui, China; 2010 1st China International Digital Photography Art Exhibition (Photography Museum of Lishui, China); 2009 ACMP Signature Series (Lake Wendouree, Ballarat International Foto Biennale); ACMP Collection Travelling Exhibition (works from The Australian Photographer’s Collection); AIPP Award Travelling Exhibition Awards & Honours: Moran Contemporary Photography Prize – 2015 Semifinalist; International Colour Awards - Honorable Mention, 2013 Professional Architecture – Nominee, 2015 Professional Fine Art; 2008, 2009 & 2013 Professional Architecture; 2010 Professional Still Life; International Black and White Spider Awards – Nominee, 2011-2013 Professional Architecture; China International Digital Photography Art Exhibition – 2013-2015 On international panel of jurors; 2011 Bronze Award (twice) & Photographic Society of America Special Commendation; 2010 Silver Award; Australian Institute of Professional Photography - 2000 Australian Commercial & Industrial Photographer of the Year; 2000 Double Master of Photography; AIPP Awards - Numerous gold, silver and bronze over many years; Victorian Institute of Professional Photography - 2002 Highest scoring landscape print; 2000 Victorian Commercial & Industrial Photographer of the Year; National Print Awards - 2001 Gold & Silver Award
For Sales and Enquiries: David B Simmonds E david@simmonds.com.au M +61 418 328 710 W1 davidbsimmonds.com W2 lightlinespace.com