Shikoku No Seijaku (Shikoku Silence)

Image: Damien Drew (supplied)
Image: Damien Drew (supplied)

Photographic Exhibition at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, Sydney ‘Shikoku no Seijaku’ (Shikoku Silence) is showing at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf from 17 July - 11 August 2024.

Public exhibition opening Wednesday 17 July, 6-8pm.

Award-winning art director, trained architect and acclaimed photographer Damien Drew shines a light on the serene yet haunting landscapes of Japan’s Shikoku Island in his latest exhibition ‘Shikoku no Seijaku’ (Shikoku Silence).

Drew’s exhibition invites viewers on a visual journey through Shikoku, Japan’s least populous landmass, illuminating the drastic effects of Japan’s declining population and the migration of Japanese youth to larger cities. In some areas of the island, up to half of the residential buildings are deserted, elementary schools are abandoned and modern highways remain empty and largely unused. Drew’s evocative imagery captures the disappearance of these once vibrant and authentic communities whilst also finding moments of beauty in unexpected places and re-framing loss and decay as an invitation for reflection.

Image: Damien Drew (supplied)
Image: Damien Drew (supplied)

“Through ‘Shikoku no Seijaku’ I aim to capture the melancholic beauty that remains in the wake of the region’s pronounced social change. This series continues my exploration of the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of ‘wabi-sabi,’ which celebrates the transient beauty found in the impermanence of all things. Even though my images may depict the decline of these communities in part, I view my work as both a celebration and memorialisation of what remains”, said Damien Drew.

Drew’s photography has been published and exhibited globally. He was recognised as a finalist in Photolucida’s “Critical Mass” 2020 and LensCulture’s Black and White Awards 2022. He received recognition from the Urbanautica Institute of Visual Anthropology and he was ranked among Capture Magazine’s “Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers” in 2022 for the ‘Shikoku’ series.

An acclaimed art director for feature films, Drew’s credits include Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis' biopic and Sir Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien Covenant’. Drew holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree and his work bridges his dual passions for architecture and visual storytelling, both in his photographic projects and his contributions to the film industry. The exhibition will coincide with the publication of a limited-edition photobook containing 62 images from the broader photographic series.

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January

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Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

Melbourne: until 16 Feb 2025. Petrina Hicks works with photography to create large-scale photographs that draw from mythology, fables, and historical art imagery to reframe the contemporary female experience.

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Melbourne. One off event 23 February. The first solo photography exhibition from international cinematographer and producer 'The Squid' – showcasing the wild underwater dance images conveying human emotion and the magic of connection.

March

Sydney: 1–9 March. Outdoor exhibition @ The Opera House. The Lipstick Effect exhibits works by 18 acclaimed Australian female photographers with ideas from past and present.

Sydney: One off event. 28 March 7pm. Join OCULI at ESCAC by Brand X for their new community event OCULI presents, where collective members curate a selection of photography projections for your enjoyment.

April

Organised by the Art Gallery Society of NSW, join an eight-day study tour in April exploring ‘photography as art’ in the City of Light: with private visits to galleries, discussions with leading photography curators and more!