This first part of a new series by Paul Freeman is set far away from Bondi's shores under a mighty Australian sky on a vast property filled with drovers, farm-hands shearers and cowboys, working and at play. This extraordinary body of work, set in a variously tough and gorgeously colored landscape, often evokes Australia's pioneering past with sepia toning, aging of images and a carefully controlled color palette of muted burnt yellows and reds reminiscent both of nineteenth century Australian impressionism and of early hand-painted photos. The collection has a 'boys own adventure' feel which those annual compendiums of ripping yarns might have had in the 1920's and '30s. The qualities displayed by the men on these pages were as current a hundred years ago as they are now. Even the more obviously contemporary images are nostalgic, shot as they are in and around weathered timber farm buildings and parched fields littered with rusted old vehicles. Everything is worn but staunch and durable complimenting and contrasting the wonderfully varied and astounding array of manhood portrayed.
International award-winning photographer Paul Freeman grew up in Tasmania and moved to Sydney after graduating from University.
His photographic art nudes and portraits of sports stars and actors began appearing in the prestige Studio Magazines' 'Black And White', 'Sport' and 'Blue', in the mid nineteen nineties.
Freeman's work with Olympians is featured in the books 'The Sydney Dream' (2000), 'The Athen's Dream' (2004), and 'Sportbook' (2003), published by Studio.
In 1996 he wrote the best-selling biography of Australian footballer Ian Roberts, ('Ian Roberts: Finding Out', published by Random House in 1997).
His first monograph 'Bondi Classic' was published to critical acclaim in 2003, and a Bondi series of books followed, 'Bondi Urban' (2005), 'Bondi Work' (2006) and 'Bondi Road' (2007).
'Outback Brumby' is the third in a series featuring photographs themed around the Australian countryside, succeeding 'Outback' ( 2008) and 'Outback Currawong Creek' ( 2009) .
Freeman has exhibited in New York at The Leslie Lohmann Gallery in Soho, in Sydney at The Art Gallery Of New South Wales, The Powerhouse Museum, Byron McMahon Gallery, The Australian Centre for Photography and Chifley Square, and at The Melbourne Aquatic Centre, as well as other venues and galleries.
His photography has been lauded in 'New York Times' Art Critic Robert Hughes' documentary series about Australia, 'Beyond The Fatal Shore', on Australia's ABC television's 'Sunday Arts' program, and his photography and books have been lauded in reviews in many periodicals and websites.
For more information got to www.paulfreeman.com.au
or email info@paulfreeman.com.au.
