MARCELLE BRADBEER

Lucky No. 7 (Queenstown)                                2018                                                                    Archival Inkjet Print                                        62.5cm x 51 (120mm 6x7 film negative)                                                 

Marcelle Bradbeer's ongoing project​ Man Altered Landscapes depicts our species’ incessant need to inhabit and occupy space. As a landscape photographer this occupied space consequently is the natural landscape - its sublime and pristine otherness invaded by man-made artefacts.

By​ ​focussing​ ​on the​ ​human​ ​element​ ​in​ ​nature,​ Bradbeer is ​questioning​ ​the​ ​existence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pristine​ ​environment​ and diverting​ ​the​ ​viewer’s​ ​gaze​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​conventional​ ​aesthetics​ ​of​ ​landscape​ ​photography towards​ ​the​ ​reality​ ​of​ ​contemporary​​ ​landscape​ ​altered​ ​by​ ​human​ ​impact. This invasion of natural space​ ​represents the human need to conquer - our suffocating tendency to leave nothing untouched and mark our territory.

Bradbeer utilise​s ​a landscape’s​ ​innate​ ​beauty​ ​to​ ​illustrate​ ​the​ ​relationship​ ​between​ ​humans​ ​and​ ​nature​ ​and​ ​entice​ ​the viewer​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​with​ ​the​ ​work’s​ ​narrative. Her use of vivid​ ​colour​ ​and​ ​delicate​ ​composition depict​s ​scenes​ ​of​ ​tranquility that at first glance might be mistaken as 'just a pretty picture' - an intended outward show of innocence that disguises its true meaning and critiquing essence in the subtext and challenges the viewer (in a gentle, subtle way) to look more closely.

Salmon Ring, Norway 2018

Cobar Open-Cut Mine                                                           2017                                                                               Archival Inkjet Print                                                               80 x 80cm

Blank Bales, Norway 2018

Untitled, Austria 2016

Murray Sunset-National Park Pink Lake 2017 Archival Inkjet Print 59.4 x 42cm

Zig Zag Road, Norway 2019

Serpentine, Death Valley (USA) 2020

Krafla Geothermal Power Plant (Iceland) 2019

- - - was here, Norway 2018

Lake Eildon Powerlines                             2017                                                     Archival Inkjet Print                                   42 x 59.4cm

Power Plant- Mývatn (Iceland) 2019

 Snakes and Ladders Over Queenstown                                                   2018                                                                                                             Archival Inkjet Print                                                                                   51 x 62.5cm  (120mm 6x7 film negative)     

Barbed Wire On Lake Tyrrell                                                                                                 2017                                                                                                                           Archival Inkjet Print                                                                                                               59.4 x 42cm