Australian photographers Caroline McLean-Foldes and Mim Stirling share a fascination and love of Japanese culture, which the pair explores in two separate bodies of work that are on exhibition at Arthere, Sydney.
In “Wonderland – Through the Looking Glass” Caroline McLean-Foldes draws on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderful to present an allegorical exploration of Japanese culture in the context of Japan as a “realm of magical landscapes and spirits”.
“In Japan, I sought a wonderland – a sacred realm of magical landscapes and spirits. Nostalgia and an outsider’s idealism propelled my quest. My digital camera allowed me to explore parallel, elusive worlds in a way that I found less available within the constraints of analogue film,” explained McLean-Foldes. “I had unlimited freedom to capture the mysterious, metaphysical and intangible, aided by light and time. My camera and I sought ancient traces and modern insights, slipping through dimensions. Darkness and light in a smoky patchwork, revealed omnipresent, unconventional dream worlds. My fantasy Japan appeared momentarily. If we are lucky, the ephemeral realms allow us glimpses. I share with you my glimpses, with gratitude to the spirits of Japan.”
