Arts trail exhibition shows Japanese influences

EXHIBITING a limited preview of LUMO WABI SABI at Ocean Grove Uniting Church Hall this weekend as part of the Arts Trail, Stanley Spargo’s creative vision has been focused this year on compositional photography: monochrome perspectives drawing on an elegant simplicity of style gleaned from journeys in Japan.

A year of work deepening this vision culminates in a final whirl of activity, refining the format that best honours the work.

“I’ve used grainy images as a homage to time passing (the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic), and printed them as large scale, luminous metallic prints: this creates a unique contrast which I hope communicates what I’m trying to show, which sometimes makes one look twice to understand the image,” she said.

After last year’s prolific foray into colour and canvas it’s an interesting direction for a creative mind.

“I like the challenge of exploring new horizons, and often come back renewed to both painting and photography, such complementary forms of expression.

“Two years ago I had a creative fast for 12 months to ‘bottle up the juice’ and allow pressure to build that was released as last year’s impressionist landscapes in oils”.

These are currently on exhibition in a rather special home in Ivanhoe currently on the market. That’s certainly unique and characterises Stanley’s “why not? Let’s keep it exciting” attitude to the world. It’s a skilful perspective.

Stanley’s work can be seen permanently at the Portarlington and Brunswick studios.

For more information, head to stanleyspargo.com and @stanleyspargo on Instagram.