The Gift (Platina Editions) by Chris Ireland

The brainchild of Christopher Ireland, artist and member of Pool Collective, Platina Editions is an online gallery where collectors can buy alternative process prints, handmade by the artist, in very limited bespoke editions. The launch will take place on 15 February, with an exhibition by Ireland, The Gift, on display at the gallery until 25 February.

© Christopher Ireland. Chrysanthenum. Lith. 8x10, 1 of 2.
© Christopher Ireland. Chrysanthemum. Lith. 8x10, 1 of 2.

“I decided to pursue a lifelong dream to engage directly with the craft-rich origins of photography, and with this, the benefits of producing beautiful, archival prints, having often unsatisfactorily sought to replicate an aesthetic digitally,” Ireland says.

His solo exhibition, The Gift, features botanical studies captured on film and printed by the artist using Platinum and Palladium, Lith, and Salt printing methods.

© Christopher Ireland. Cala lily. Study1. Lith. 8x10, 1 of 2.
© Christopher Ireland. Cala lily. Study1. Lith. 8x10, 1 of 2.

Artist statement 

“Five years ago, my wife and I were looking for a home to raise our young family.

Following the death of its owner, a man in his 90’s, a charming but run down cottage revealed itself beyond a giant elm…

My wife began to collect orchids, lilies and leaves from the property and display them in vases around the house. The amazing thing about these beautiful botanical forms is their ceaseless capacity to inspire…

Indeed there is no language to fully describe flowers. Nor can we fully detail our feelings towards them. These images reflect my admiration and fascination for botanicals and signal my attempts to hold images on paper that will last hundreds, even thousands of years. It is my gift to pass on.”

© Christopher Ireland. Poppy. Lith. 8x10, 1 of 2.
© Christopher Ireland. Poppy. Lith. 8x10, 1 of 2.
© Christopher Ireland. Cymbidium orchid. Salt. 4x5, 2 of 7.
© Christopher Ireland. Cymbidium orchid. Salt. 4x5, 2 of 7.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

April

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

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.

Sydney: Until 30 June. The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

May

Sydney: 15 May – 19 October. Showcasing 100 incredible images, this remarkable exhibition offers a window into the astonishing variety of life on our planet – and the critical importance of preserving it.

Sydney: Until 21 June. With a career spanning fifty years, his virtuosic artistry continues to unfold in powerful, haunting images that explore the timeless mystery of the human condition.

Perth: From 31 May – 28 Sept 2025. Featuring 85 works from three major series – Deep Springs, Overpass, and Cross Country – the exhibition spans twelve years of Contis’s evolving photographic practice.

June

Sydney: Until 6 July. Presenting the results of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, the annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year.

Melbourne: June 5 - 16 August 2025. The explore the history of Alan Adler's photobooths and their cultural significance, alongside visual stories told by the community.

Adelaide: 7 June – 16 August. Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery collection, this photographic exhibition captures the experience of lives lived through dance.