Now Open: Could the shadows speak? And if so, what would they say?
Unlocking the shadows of Pentridge Prison: photographer Brent Lukey reveals hidden stories in new exhibition
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is proud to announce a free new immersive experience is now open at Pentridge Prison Tours by Melbourne photographer Brent Lukey and sound designer Anthony Artmann.
Could the shadows speak? And if so, what would they say? is a unique exhibition in which Brent captures a side of the infamous prison seen only by its inmates and staff.
Visitors will step into a realm where history meets the present and where the past whispers its stories through the shadows.
Brent also shares a personal connection to Pentridge Prison; his grandmother worked in the Prison Hospital.
Brent’s work focuses on history without sentimentality, emphasising the present and what remains. The abandoned prison, with its bluestone structure, is devoid of personal items but brims with a ghostly aura.
As an artist, Brent was drawn to the spirit in the silent doorways, shadows, and peeling paint that has witnessed the prison’s history. In his work, Brent delves deep, feeling the weight of isolation in the cells, with sunlight offering a glimpse of hope.
Speaking about the immersive exhibition, Brent said,
“The sound design began by recording within the prison, the movement of doors, of iron, the solid bluestone itself, influenced by pioneers like Brian Eno and Steve Reich, it serves as an atmospheric bed for the images, delving into the depths of sensory perception.”
“It embraces the unspoken, evoking subliminal tones and the spectres of memory, transforming surveillance into introspection, and challenging our place in a shifting world.
“Time and space become malleable, inviting attendees to transcend boundaries, where past, present, and future coexist.
“This sound design philosophy awakens the senses, reshapes reality, and encourages introspective exploration of our existence’s profound mysteries,” Brent said.
Could the shadows speak? And if so, what would they say? opens 27 October 2023 at Warders Upstairs at Pentridge Prison and runs daily until 26 January 2024. Entry to the exhibition is free.