Our world from the air

WITH the proliferation of drone technology, we now have the pleasure of seeing more and more of our surroundings through a remarkable lens.

Turning our largely ground level views of the world – the well-recognised, the well-known, in to something awe inspiring, jaw dropping and truly magnificent. How wonderful technology can be.

In 2021 the gallery commissioned a painting from the artist Wayne Elliott for the current exhibition The Story So Far Part 2.

“Driving past Lake Tooim” acrylic on canvas 2022, is painted in Wayne’s signature naïve style, an aerial perspective with aspects of the view “flattened” and other areas of the painting reading as if you are looking through binoculars.

A remarkable close-up with great attention to detail, such as the fence posts, native grasses and the individual trees.

On close inspection, we see the car with lights on hurtling north on Swan Hill-Moulamein Road.

In contrast to this detail is the amorphous lake itself. Like a plume of white smoke rising up from the bottom of the painting, but no, it is, of course, a body of water, finding its place as it slowly fills the shallow and ancient depression.

As an overflow of the Merren Creek, the lake fills intermittently and is often without water following extended dry years.

Paddocks recently tilled are pictured towards the top of the painting, again suggesting an aerial perspective that can be viewed from the vantage point at the top of the hill to the west of the lake.

Commuters wold know this hill well and the landmark has been perfectly captured in this painting.

The Story So Far Part 2 features this painting and other remarkable interpretations of the narrative with imagery at times hinting, sometimes revealing, and other times asking the question “Just what is going on here?”

Don’t miss this fascinating exhibition, closes August 28.