For almost 60 years, Richard Woldendorp used aerial photography to create stunning abstract art pieces inspired by Australia’s unique landscape. Long before the advent of drones and digital cameras, he photographed Australia’s wild and varied terrain in commercial jets and smaller aircraft to capture its distinctly unique characteristics.
The Manjimup Art Gallery’s new exhibition, Contours: Aerial Impressions of a Complex Landscape, celebrates Richard’s work revealing extraordinary views of the Australian landscape from the air.
Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in 1927, Richard, emigrated to Australia in 1951. He purchased his first camera in 1955 beginning a very successful, life-long career in photography. A career that included being named a State Living Treasure in recognition of his contribution to the appreciation of the Australian landscape and in 2012 an Order of Australia for service to the arts. Richard’s stunning aerial images have been featured in over 27 books and displayed in 52 solo exhibitions. Sadly, Richard passed away in April 2023.
Shire President, Donelle Buegge, said, “We are delighted to feature Richard’s remarkable images at the Manjimup Art Gallery. His topographical views of textured farmland, meandering rivers, weathered landforms and turbulent coastlines are breathtaking and remind us of the unique beauty of the Australian landscape.”
In Richard’s own words:
“The Australian landscape has always appealed to me. There's something about it - its spaciousness, its character, the light and its uniqueness. But it also is a very old landscape. It is the flattest and driest continent, which compared with other countries, does not manifest itself in grandeur as we know it - large rivers, large mountains and the dramatic changes of the seasons."
The Contours exhibition will be on display at the Manjimup Art Gallery from 16 February until 22 March 2024.
