Our principal photographer, dave, has recently had an exhibition of his prints on display with Brisbane City Council at their Nundah Suburban Hub gallery space. The prints explored themes around COVID-19 lockdowns and the effect they are having on creatives, draining the cities of their cultural heart.
What is a city without its people?
Over the past 18 months, Brisbane has, like so many cities all around the world, at times been almost devoid of human population, the normally bustling pavements and roads emptied by COVID-enforced lockdowns. The pandemic has seen the entertainment precincts of the city drained of their usual vibrancy, with the arts, cultural and entertainment industries particularly hard hit by lockdowns, enforced social distancing regulations and travel restrictions. They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn and that an end to restrictions is almost in sight, but, for many, COVID has been a very long and difficult night and the morning cannot come quickly enough for many dreams and livelihoods.
This collection of images was captured during the “new normal” periods between the lockdowns of 2021. They showcase the thoroughfares that traverse Maiwar—the Brisbane River—arteries that normally pulse with life, but which, during the pandemic, have been eerily still. If Brisbane is the beating heart of South-East Queensland, these thoroughfares are the interconnected vascular system that connect it to the rest of the body, but without the heartbeat provided by its cultural precincts, there may soon be no pulse and no life. The night-time images have been captured in monochrome using long exposures to reflect a vision of a city in dark times that retains its stark beauty but is missing the people that give it colour and create its beating heart.
About the artist.
Dave Wall is a Brisbane-based creative whose work reflects the vibrant colour and dynamism of Queensland and its people. He has operated his commercial photography and video business in South-East Queensland since 2006 and he is most often found telling intimate personal stories or capturing compelling narratives for a range of governmental entities, commercial organisations and social enterprises. This series of prints was exhibited by Brisbane City Council at the Nundah Surburban Hub gallery from 13/08/21 until 24/09/21.
