Work selected for the Bowness Photography Prize / by Emma Conroy

The Lookdown at Bungonia is located on the edge of the Morton national park, a rugged area 170 kms south of Sydney, part of the Shoalhaven river system. I was intrigued by the form of the landscape of this area, which is dominated by weather worn limestone escarpments.

In this work the two faces of the gorge are presented. On the left the seemingly pristine and rugged mountainous cliff, that recalled in my mind the famous landscapes paintings by the 10th century Chinese artist Fan K'uan. On the right is the Bungonia limestone quarry. A structure carved out of the land in monumental steps, giving it the appearance of an inverted ziggurat. 

This work was previously  selected for exhibition in the 38th Alice Prize 2014 at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs. The 38th Alice Prize exhibition opened on Friday 9 May 2014 at the Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, and was judged Dr Michael Brand, Director of the Art Gallery of NSW.