REX DUPAIN

CURATORS ESSAY

In the sweeping, surreal landscapes of the Dead Sea, photographer Rex Dupain has embarked on a project that merges the timeless with the transient capturing the raw, mysterious beauty of a place whose future is as uncertain as its ancient past. Known for his striking and unexpected compositions, Rex Dupain has visited the Dead Sea to produce a series of images that speak to both the ephemeral nature of life and the profound geological forces that shape our planet.

Rex Dupain’s new body of work, centred around balloons inflated and released into the air, explores the Dead Sea not only as a physical location but as a metaphor for impermanence, transformation, and fragility. At first glance, the juxtaposition of balloons—light, delicate, and easily carried by the wind—against the immense, ancient backdrop of the Dead Sea’s harsh, mineral-rich landscape creates a visual tension that invites deeper contemplation. The balloons, rising into the air, seem to float effortlessly against the starkness of the salt-encrusted earth below, embodying the paradox of life thriving in one of the most hostile environments on Earth.

The Dead Sea itself is a natural wonder, a landlocked saltwater lake nestled between Jordan to the east and Israel and Palestine to the west. Its high salinity—around ten times that of typical seawater—means that human beings can float with ease on its surface. This unique mineral composition, often considered therapeutic, has drawn people to the region for centuries, from ancient Egyptian mummification practices to modern-day health and wellness retreats. In Dupain’s photographs, however, the focus shifts from human interaction with this environment to an exploration of its most enigmatic qualities.

Dupain’s use of balloons, as an artistic medium, serves as a subtle commentary on the Dead Sea’s own tenuous existence. These balloons—fragile, momentary, and subject to the whims of the wind—mirror the future of the Dead Sea itself. As the region suffers from an alarming rate of shrinkage, largely due to the diversion of water from the Jordan River and mineral extraction, the once-expansive body of water is quickly vanishing. The balloons, in their fleeting existence, symbolise not just the fragility of the Dead Sea but the looming crisis of climate change and environmental degradation that threatens this natural wonder.

While the photographs themselves are a series of visually striking moments, their true power lies in their ability to evoke a sense of melancholy and reflection. Through seemingly random compositions of colourful balloons caught mid-air or resting precariously against the arid landscape, Rex Dupain challenges the viewer to confront the forces of nature—both those that sustain life and those that destroy it. In a sense, the balloons are not just ephemeral objects but also metaphors for the resilience of life itself. Despite the severe conditions of the Dead Sea, a rich community of microbes continues to thrive in its waters, and Rex Dupain’s work hints at this hidden, microscopic world—an ecosystem that endures even as the sea itself fades away.

Rex Dupain’s photographs have found their place in prestigious collections, including the Australian Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. His work has also been collected privately by notable figures such as Sir Elton John, Edmund Capon, and Baz Luhrmann—each drawn to the evocative and timeless quality of his images. Rex Dupain has also published several photographic books, including Bondi to Broken Hill, Australian Images, Inside Sydney, and The Colour of Bondi, which showcase his ability to capture the essence of Australian life through his lens.

This varied and rich body of work, which seamlessly bridges painting and photography, has made Rex Dupain a distinctive voice in contemporary art. Whether capturing the dramatic landscapes of Australia or the serene simplicity of the Dead Sea, Rex Dupain’s photographs are marked by an intuitive understanding of light, composition, and the emotional resonance of his subjects. His work continues to inspire reflection on the connections between place, memory, and time.

As we dive deeper into the realm of the Dead Sea through Dupain’s lens, we are reminded not only of the beauty that exists in places often deemed inhospitable but also of the urgent need to preserve such spaces for future generations. The series prompts a dialogue between the viewer and the landscape, urging reflection on the ways in which we relate to both the past and the future of our planet. In the end, Dupain’s photographs are not just an exploration of the Dead Sea’s physical properties; they are a meditation on the very nature of existence—fleeting, unpredictable, and yet, in its own way, profoundly resilient.

Join us on this visual journey into the heart of the Dead Sea, where the colours of balloons rise against the backdrop of a landscape caught between time and change. Through this exhibition, we are invited to contemplate the complex, ever-shifting relationship between the environment, art, and the future of our world.

Litsa Veldekis

Curator