Paola Talbert
Artist Bio
Paola Talbert lives and works on the lands of the Cadigal and Wangal clans of the Eora Nation. She is an award-winning Fine Art photographer known for her highly individualised photographic practise with a career that spans over 38 years. The main drive in her photography is focused on creating compelling compositions that inspire human connection with the natural world and elements. In recent years this has also expanded to conservation and advocacy with architectural spaces and environments at risk. She has worked as a photography educator and tutor at University of Sydney for over 33 years at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning and previously at the Tin Sheds Art Workshop. She has completed photography commissions for NSW Govt, Broken Hill City Council, Inner West Council. Her work is in private and public collections.
Artist Statement
Living Abstract is a series about social and personal transformation. It is a reflection on the power of the imagination and reverence for the local public and accessible parklands, rivers and walkways in the Inner West of Sydney. The exhibition features Fine Art photographs taken in outdoor locations where I have cycled and walked through for many years. I have hung large fabric blueprints or cyanotypes that feature a light impression of a woman on the fabric, and I have carefully positioned and placed these prints in public spaces on tree branches, fences, walls. With my digital camera and tripod, I work with natural light and shadow, and sometimes a breeze to subtly move the fabric, experimenting with focus, shutter speeds, depth of field and focal length of the lens all these decisions and elements come together to tell a story. In the artwork ‘Homeless’ I included a detail of a tent as this is becoming a common sight in contemporary life in urban public spaces. In the artwork ‘Hope’ which features a cyanotype fabric print positioned on a barbed wire fence with a tree behind the print the theme is symbolic of political division and conflict in Australia and globally.
The life size body blueprints or cyanotypes came to me when I was experiencing the Sydney Lockdowns between 2020/21 and reflecting on women living alone. My mother had passed away in early 2020 and I was confronted by my own grief and loss at this time. My early fabric blueprints featured myself lying on the fabric surrounded with objects from nature and life that had personal meaning. This theme and technique extended to then working with friends, local artistic performers, family relatives which are featured in this exhibition.