ART REVIEW: Jesse Lee, Looking Out the Window Towards the Sea
Jesse Lee’s Looking Out the Window Towards the Sea exhibition and book launch was such a refreshingly fun night. It’s so heartwarming to see a local and incredibly talented artist get this well-deserved audience. The exhibition featured a collection of images taken when travelling in India. The photographs were vibrant and warm, capturing a beautiful color palette across the exhibition and book - the vibrant blue of the sky in one image was the exact shade in another subject’s glasses, or the deep orange of a garment paired perfectly with the color of the sun, reflecting on a rooftop in another. This work was made to be consumed in a group, because looking at a solitary picture does not compare to standing in a room of these prints, each one like a window into this place. These images were formed from true connection, vulnerability and authenticity. You can see the subject’s comfortability and connection to the camera (or the person behind it) in every image. This work reflects the intent the artist had, and you can sense the humanity and appreciation of connection between people in every single photograph. In the posture and looseness of all these subjects, you almost feel a part of the conversation before the image was captured, and you can see their joy and vulnerability in every image. I think this is a beautiful example of the effect created when street photography meets consent and connection. It captures something that cannot be attained in the aggressive, ‘Ask for forgiveness, not permission’ style of photography such as Mark Cohen. It’s much less aggressive, softer and more humanistic.
The Fremantle Piazza stood out to me from this exhibition, in the past year the center has had a beautiful re-design; filled with creative spaces, workshops, exhibitions, small businesses, handmade goods and shops opening late. It has become a beautiful area beaming with positivity, art and community. The feeling of being in a space full of local artists and business owners who are all contributing something was exciting and optimistic.
After the exhibition we looked at a new store called (not)random magazines, who sell a collection of curated publications, as well as CRAM studio, currently selling handmade clothes. The Piazza has birthed a beautiful community of artists with some incredible ideas and creations; I will definitely return for future exhibitions and shopping trips as well as keeping my eye out for what comes next in this space.
