𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙥𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮

Image: Rachael Maude, Lone gidgee tree, 2022. Gelatin silver print, 30 x 40 cm. Image courtesy of the artist

Image: Rachael Maude, Mullock heap at Blue Dog Mine, 2022. Gelatin silver print, 30 x 40cm. Image courtesy of Fiona Little.

Rachael Maude

Gallery 2

Friday 30 September - Sunday 16 October 2022

The Opal Byway is an analog photo essay which explores the unique experience of life in the remote opal mining community of Yowah, South West Queensland. During a trip to the annual Yowah Opal Festival back in 2018, the artist became fascinated with the unconventional lifestyle of local residents and saw a special opportunity to capture an intimate look at their work and daily life. 

Opal mining has long attracted non-conformers and outliers. In the opal fields you can encounter every kind of person, each with a compelling story about what drew them there. This body of work aims to introduce the viewer to the individual experience of this isolated and eccentric community.

Rachael Maude is an independent artist who works with film photography and traditional darkroom practices. As part of her artist residency in Yowah, she shot continuously over a 6-month period, hand processed negatives, and established a darkroom and studio, from which she printed all the works shown in this exhibition.