Artist Profile Carmel Louise
Carmel Louise, The East Hollow Sided Cubes, 2021, Photography on Canson Rag Photographique
210gsm paper, fishing line and sinkers, 18.1″ x 18.1″ x 18.1″ (460 mm x 460 mm x 460 mm).
Artist Statement
Each artwork in this collection is crafted using my DeConstructed Photography technique, where digital experimentation merges with meticulous handwork. Starting from a single photographic image, I employ advanced digital technologies to displace and reconfigure the visual content, then disrupt the surface of the printed image. These techniques—whether digital displacement or physical deconstruction and reconstruction, such as cutting and folding—transform each image into an abstract, three-dimensional space, transcending conventional boundaries of colour, form, and texture.
By deconstructing banal photos, I allow each one to surpass its original form. What was once a static, flat image is reshaped into something “other,” combining digital and hand-crafted interventions that defy traditional photography. Capturing a three-dimensional subject through two-dimensional means and expanding it back into a three-dimensional space opens up endless creative possibilities.
Each piece is exclusive and unrepeatable, a testament to the time, technique, and care that go into its creation. Larger works, such as my 37.4″ x 37.4″ (95 x 95 cm) constructions, require up to 200 hours to complete, involving precise templating, hand cutting, and mounting. Created with archival materials, each artwork embodies my dedication to disengage and react against the limitations of conservative philosophies in photography, the journey of discovery and craftsmanship.
Artist Biography
Australian-born artist Carmel Louise specializes in unconventional photography, holding a BA in Fine Art Photography (Distinction, 2010). With a background in ceramics and a hands-on approach, Carmel deconstructs the compositional elements of single photographic images, employing digital techniques and physically disrupting the print surface to reimagine her subjects. Over 17 years, Carmel has regularly exhibited in group and solo shows, earning recognition as a finalist in numerous Australian art awards, including winning the inaugural Noel Counihan Award in 2017. Her dedication to fostering creative community led her to facilitate a photography group for eight years before opening her studio in 2017. Today, her studio serves as a fine art printing service, offering other artists access to professional facilities.