An Art Exhibition To Attend In Byron This Weekend

Free this Friday night? If not, cancel your plans, or at the very least keep an hour or so free on your Saturday. 

The reason you ask? Well, Tim Swallow, a gentleman Stab is quite fond of is hosting a dual exhibition featuring two of his latest bodies of work, If We Die Tomorrow and We Live Today. Tim recently held two seperate exhibitions featuring these pieces in Sydney, and due to their warm reception he’s taking them up north to display this weekend. The exhibition will be opening on Friday night at the Thrills store in Byron and will be open all day on Saturday from 10 till 4 – permitting hangover recovery of course. 

“Both exhibitions have a similar theme but they are separate entities.” Mr. Swallow told us about the two bodies of work. “I feel like the concept was born with my first exhibition ‘If We Die Tomorrow’, then it was finessed in ‘We Live Today’. Both shows encompass freedom, anarchy, fun and mayhem.” 

Photography

Tim Swallow

These shoots weren’t forced either. Of course, Tim had input into the direction and the settings of the shoots, but a lot of it developed, as you might say, ‘organically’.

“In regards to the first exhibition it really was quite organic with a lot of my initial ideas being sparked by a moment in time that was happening. We decided, collaboratively amongst friends, we should do something fun and free of inhibition.” Tim said about the exhibition. 

“However, with the second exhibition it was a lot more organised and composed. The talent were curated and locations were selected. The style in which it was shot was kept super raw, real and loose.”

Photography

Tim Swallow

It might also be obvious nudity is a central theme to both exhibitions. And while this might be a good traffic driver on this often depraved URL, Tim had more well defined ideologies driving the nude theme. 

“It’s a return to our natural state. There’s a point in time as a child where this is completely acceptable, however as we grow as humans we conform and feel totally masked by our inhibitions.

“Embracing our surrounds, being present and spontaneous was a huge inspiration. As for the nudity, well… Everything is more fun in the nude. its heart this is not some hippy shit, it’s punk, not necessarily by aesthetic but by attitude. A disarming of cultural constraints. Flipping the bird to consumerism and the technical shackles that seem to hold us.”

Photography

Tim Swallow

While a large proportion of the work was shot in Australia, Tim and the subjects (who are mostly friends) also travelled around the globe in search of settings.

“A lot of it was shot in our Australian outback and some parts of Europe.

“Getting out of the city and into the wilderness was part of the journey and formed a big part of finding perfect locations that suited each shoot and each cast of talent. Shapes and textures in the environment echoed their personalities and forms.”

And about those nude skating shots, well, Tim ensured us no bark was lost on anyone, but he was thankful that the elderly passerbys didn’t call the cops. “Luckily landlines take longer to connect to the cops these days.”

Photography

Tim Swallow

If you want to see the rest of the exhibition, then clear your schedule for Friday night and follow the information below.

P.s. sorry for posting an article that isn’t on a Sunday when I’m hungover.