EXPLORING finer details of nature had a meditative affect on Susan Nethercote and Alison Shirley in their art.
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They both challenge and bounce off each other, Alison as a macro photographer and Susan adapting the natural abstract in paint, but also offering up new objects – as simple as a blade of grass – for Alison to consider.
The pair will showcase their collaboration in exhibition Nature’s Abstract at Backspace Gallery, from Thursday.
“Macro experience for me is quite magic,” Alison said. “I’m not a green thumb but with the camera you often wonder ‘how did that happen, I had no idea about the detail’...It’s about shutting out the outside and going into a whole other world. You feel like a bit of an explorer.”
When Susan first approached Alison, her Pilates instructor, about working together, Alison had thought it would be straightforward – Susan could paint off her photography. Instead, Alison found new inspiration in how Susan used colours and in how the light played with objects in Susan’s open studio.
“It’s really just playing,” Susan said. “Macro shots being so up close means the subject naturally abstracts. I love the mystery in the world of nature and that almost blissed out feeling you get.
“I work a lot from photos and I was really drawn to her photos – you can’t find these sorts of photos usually...I just play around with more abstract backgrounds.”
They each find intrigue in the beauty of different stages of nature, living or dead.
There is a mutual admiration but the more Susan and Alison explored their theme, the more they realised they complemented each other. Some pieces directly correspond,like the series As Above, As Below, while others are more loosely inspired on the dreamlike qualities or how light abstracts the way nature is seen.
Pulling the exhibition together has been a whirlwind. Susan said they knew the scope of what they wanted to achieve late last year, but earnestly started work on how to best showcase their work from late last month.
Nature’s Abstract is showing until June 11 with an official opening event on Sunday, 2pm.
Take a closer look on Instagram at Susan’ work @susannethercote and Alison’s on @alishirley.
Watch below for an insight into Alison’s secret life of plants and macro photography in ABC Open’s Up Close series from 2012.