Anything but mundane, the photographic work of Sydney-based artist Gavin Libotte presents suburbia through a different lens. His collection, Wanderland, showcases enormous dogs and seagulls towering over unsuspecting joggers and beachgoers, creating a surreal view of everyday life. For the 56-year-old photographer, this is how he captures the magic in the mundane.
Libotte’s artistic photographs challenge viewers to re-imagine the world around them. “We’re very used to the world, and I think it becomes mundane because we’re looking at things in pretty much the same way all the time,” he explained. “We lose that ability we had as a child to have that sense of wonder. Everything is made of energy that’s in a dance together, and everything’s vibrating and interrelating and having a relationship with each other.”
Wanderland: A Fresh Perspective
The images in Libotte’s Wanderland collection are currently on display as part of this year’s Head On Photo Festival at Bondi. Most of these images were captured over a five-year period at Manly Beach Promenade in Sydney. “Wanderland is about seeing the world from a new fresh perspective, and the way that I discovered that was by bringing the camera down to street level,” he said.
Libotte’s technique involves lowering the camera to street level, which transforms the field of view dramatically. “When I did lower my camera, things just became completely amazing to me because you don’t expect what the field of view would look like, how much it would change,” he noted. Using a wide 28-millimeter lens, he captures scenes where small objects, like seagulls, appear gigantic.
Experimenting further, Libotte incorporated a handheld flash to “light that stage” and emulate the cinematic mise en scène, creating striking shadows. His favorite photograph from the collection features towering seagulls. “That photo is a bit of a miracle to me, the fact that everything worked out,” he said. “I mean the men sitting on the front of the edge of the beach behind are all perfectly poised and everything’s really balanced.”
An Age of Passion
Libotte’s journey into photography began as an enthusiastic teenager after moving from the UK to Australia in 1981. Completing school at 16, he gained work experience in a photography studio, where he learned to take, process, and print photos. “I immediately loved it,” he recalled.
His passion led him to create a darkroom at home during college, where he learned image processing. “I had blocked out all the windows and I bought all the chemicals and I actually did some printing in the bathroom,” Libotte shared. Although he took a break to pursue a career as a full-time jazz musician, photography eventually called him back in his 50s.
“There are animals, there are dogs, there are birds, there’s the weather, there’s the lighting, and everything has to come together in a beautiful dance that is in perfect balance and harmony,” he said. Despite the occasional surprise of onlookers seeing a middle-aged man lying on the ground with a camera, Libotte embraces the freedom it brings. “When you first do it, you feel the judgment of others a little bit because you know you’d probably do the same if you saw someone,” he admitted. “But then I see it as an opportunity to let go of that and to be free in the environment, in the world that we’re in, and to not be concerned about what’s going on.”
Mindful Expression
For Libotte, photography is akin to yoga. “Spending quiet time with yourself is a very meditative and reflective time … and I do find that time is very important for the mental health,” he said. “I’m in the present moment and I’m really giving things my 100 percent attention and my full honor.”
Embarking on new creative endeavors can be daunting, but Libotte offers advice based on his experiences. “All you need then is you need the courage to follow through with the idea … and commit to it. Just go with what you feel inside is the right thing to do.”
As Libotte continues to explore the world through his camera, his work encourages others to see the beauty and wonder in the everyday, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
