Mark Forbes: Artist Statement & Bio

Traces of beauty exist everywhere around us. Sometimes we just need the time and space - physical and emotional - to be able to pause to experience them. This series asks the viewer to stop for a few minutes and soak in the details that can go unseen in everyday life. The location of each of the photographs could be anywhere. While they contain the traces of people that have come before, it is the absence of anyone recognisable in the images that allows us to contemplate and appreciate the concept of beautiful solitude. All images in the series were photographed using traditional medium format film.

Mark Forbes is best known for his considered and atmospheric photography of street scenes, urban landscapes and structures. He employs film as his medium of choice for personal work - using both traditional 35mm and medium format cameras.

Mark's approach to photography comes from an underlying fascination with people and their interaction with the environment. He has an uncanny knack of capturing the layers of beauty that exist everywhere around us. "I am an avid people watcher. When I'm out in the street, or even just day to day, I'm constantly seeing beautiful and interesting images and stories in my head.”

Mark has been a semi-finalist in the Moran Australian Contemporary Photographic Prize, is the winner of The Gomma Grant 2019 for the Best Colour Photograph and was awarded Capture Magazine's "Australasian Top Emerging Photographer 2018" in the Travel category. His prints are held in public and private collections, in Australia and internationally.