Sunken Houses

Brad Marsellos, Producer for ABC Open Wide Bay, is the initiator and photographer of the 'Sunken Houses' exhibition currently showing at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. Marsellos, invited sound artist and Aria winner, Austrian composer Heinz Reigler, to write a soundtrack specifically for the exhibition.

On entering the gallery, I was overwhelmed by the dark elegance of the exhibition with its hauntingly evocative soundscape.  

Twenty five large photographic prints are on display, each print mounted into a matching black frame and matt board without glass.

Low lighting is applied to the gallery walls with each print bathed in a soft ethereal circle of light. The mood created is one of refinement.

This show makes the BRAG main gallery look the very best I have ever seen it.

The Sunken Houses exhibition was created by Marsellos in response to the record breaking January 2013 Bundaberg floods. It is a personal and historical record of the aftermath of the disaster as Marsellos experienced it.

As one who lived through this disaster and had been active in the cleanup stages, I was moved to tears by the sad reminders of such difficult times, as were many others who have attended the exhibition. The soundtrack, at times beautifully melancholic, at other times... uplifting, took me on an emotional journey.

A huge print of one of the sunken houses covers a large wall near the entry, evoking awe in the viewer.  The image of a house sinking threatens our sense of the home as a safe haven.  This feeling is reiterated throughout the exhibition.

Another print entitled 'Signs are hard to see', depicts an empty block of land with a pair of old concrete driveway tracks, that lead to the house that is no longer there.

These are powerful images by Brad Marsellos... a very accomplished photographer.

The opening saw a record breaking crowd of 260 people attending the exhibition.  More attendance records have been broken daily as people continue to come, and in many cases return to see this very moving show.

Sound artist, Heinz Riegler performed his soundtrack live at the opening, to a most appreciative audience. His outstanding contribution to this project has been greatly appreciated for its sensitivity and appropriateness.

This is a very   special exhibition, and I recommend that you go and see it before it closes on the 27th of April.