Billie Baxter

Silbo

5 February – 23 February

◼︎

Time and Timelessness seem to intersect for human benefit and instruction. In nature everything is an exchange of energy, either physical and tangible or intangible. Silbo explores one’s perspective of time and the notion that time is interchangeable in environments that we exist. We experience things happening and time is unnoticed as we go through these experiential moments. La Gomera has the energy of synchronicity, you follow paths and roads that eventually all connect to the same places, but time feels like it has been misplaced. Every path you take feels as though you’re taken to where you are supposed to be in that specific moment. In Greek Mythology there are terms used for these moments, Chronos and Kairos. Chronos refers to chronological or sequential time and Kairos was the Greek God who symbolised chance, fortune and every example of meaningful coincidence. Kairos is in play when things happen unpredictably, but at just the right moment.

Silbo displays how one can be connected to a place, from the creation of video and still imagery. Billie is constructing a talismanic space for others to be submerged into the island life of Gomera, an escape from the city. Emphasizing the tranquillity of this untouched environment, and the way that time changes the pace of the lifestyle. The video imagery is a symbol of how patience and gratitude go hand in hand on this island, the nature of taking in the surroundings without time, using hues of mauve tones which has historically been a colour to evoke calmness. Mauve utilizes both red and blue to provide a complimentary balance between serenity and romance that is supposed to encourage creativity. An artist residency is a space for contemplation and creativity, a time to reflect, research and produce work. The use of purple hues places emphasis on the contemplative space. The transparent photographic prints are layered to show how the island is built from layers upon layers of mountains and deep ravines. The postcard imagery is an additional aspect of the exhibit as it’s a traditional and known way to communicate with loved ones whilst travelling; an art form that is slowly being dropped by the use of technology, paying homage to traditional ways of communication.

About the Artist
Billie Baker is a photographic artist who works in both film and digital photography. She currently bases herself in inner city Melbourne. She recently (2017) completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Design in Photography and Situated Media at the University of Technology, Sydney, with an exhibition at the UTS gallery for her work Peeper (2017). As a photographer, Billie has always been drawn to photographing people, her artistic projects see her interpreting dream like qualities using the human form and natural landscapes as a source of influence. Exploring various meanings behind the spiritual beings of humans and the environment, much of Billie’s inspiration comes from travel. Throughout her career, she has seen herself living in London and Barcelona as well as spending much time working in the west coast of France and Spain, and travelling through areas of Morocco, Mexico and California. Her travel frequently shows throughout her work using landscapes in a documentary style of photography. Her most recent project is a series which took her back through the Americas, discovering unique environments based around jungles, oceans and deserts using colours and memory as a source to evoke emotions from environmental impacts. From this series her work as grown into an in-depth investigation on environmental factors and psychological effects of colour on human beings. Through this imagery, Billie consistently conveys the euphoric visuals that she has always been drawn too, giving a whole other dimension for the viewer to understand.

Contact
Phone : (03) 9482 3550
mail@redgallery.com.au

Address
157 St Georges Rd
Fitzroy North, Victoria, 3068
Map

How to get here
Tram: route 11
Stop 21 just north of Edinburgh Gardens

Melway ref: 30B12
Parking in nearby streets

Bus: 504 (Reid Street)