Kaleidoscope
SELF-TAUGHT DARWIN-BASED photographer Louise Denton has been snapping the natural beauty of the Territory’s landscape for almost 15 years, her images immortalised on Top End walls, showcased in coffee table publications, and put together and pulled apart in 1000-piece puzzles.
Last month, she threw open the doors to her new gallery, celebrating the milestone with her first ever solo exhibition, Kaleidoscope. Tierney Seccull caught up with the talented photographer for a chat.
How does it feel to be opening your own gallery?
Scary! [Laughs] But it’s something that I’ve worked towards for about three or four years. I was actually about to sign the lease in 2020 when COVID hit, so I delayed it for 18 months. I think now’s the right time, with tourism picking up.
And it’s always just been me running the business, and I don’t think I’ve had the confidence to run a gallery by myself. I’ve had some great staff helping me out over the last 12 months and now I‘ve got four ladies on my team to help out. You can get so bogged down by the day-to-day stuff – it’s very labour intensive with picture framing and mounting prints – but now I can divvy that out so I can get out and get creative.
Did you ever imagine the humble Mindil Market stall you started 10 years ago would eventuate to this?
No, not at all! When I think back to when I was living in the UK and just finishing up at uni, I would have never imagined I’d be doing this in 15 years time, it’s just crazy. I started selling at Mindil in 2011, and opening a gallery feels a bit overwhelming, but exciting. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.
What drew you to the Waterfront?
It’s perfect. It gets a lot of visitors – locals and tourists – but I can see the sea from my shop window! I don’t think it gets better to be honest in terms of a picturesque city location. It’s a long, thin space, so it’s perfect for a gallery.
You’ve been involved in group exhibitions in the past, and Kaleidoscope is your first ever solo exhibition. Can you tell us about it?
It’s a celebration of the Wet season in Darwin – it represents the spectrum of colours that we get ... It’s for locals, in the sense that we love the Wet season, but it’s also for tourists to show them how amazing the Wet season is.
So many of them only visit in the Dry and are a bit scared of coming in the Wet, but it’s beautiful and awesome. Visit in the Wet!
What is it about the Territory landscape that has captured your heart and your camera lens?
I don’t know… I just love it. I can’t even put it into words. It’s just a feeling that I get, I feel the energy from it. It’s a landscape of extremes, so it comes from a bit of a sense of admiration. Everything here has adapted to live, from extreme drought to extreme flooding, but everything is somehow surviving.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I’m so grateful to the Darwin community that has supported my business and work over the years – I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. I’m so happy and appreciative. And I just love when people see a photo and share their connection to that landscape with me, so please, come in and have a chat!
Kaleidoscope - A Celebration of Darwin in the Wet
UNTIL FRI 15 APR
Thumbnail, header & inset: Louise Denton
