Exhibition: Eternal Bloom by Harald Altmaier

An exhibition of impressive large scale photographs, ‘Eternal Bloom’ by Harald Altmaier, a celebration of natural creation and creative talent.

“Eternal Bloom” is a photographic exploration of grandeur, style and elegance which is rooted in the tradition of early 17th century Northern European still life painting. The art of floristry, the art of photography; of capturing a moment and of turning that moment into a monument. Altmaier’s towering photographic tableaux of his floral creations bloom from that Northern European still life painting.

They invite the viewer to stay still, to look very closely and to luxuriate in the vitality of their living nature, from ephemeral to eternal as we are drawn into the very heart of each flower.

Harald Altmaier is a German-born photographer and florist. His experience as a bespoke floral designer in Australia with Kevin O’Neill and then as creative director of one of England’s most established florists, Pulbrook & Gould, is the foundation for these exuberant artworks. A master of Fine Art Photography, Harald not only curates every aspect of these highly detailed compositions, but his tableaux are also carefully staged scenes that tell a thought-provoking narrative through visual cues and symbolism which imbue the work with a sense of awe and mystery that leaves the viewer wanting more and looking deeper.The result is large scale, cinematic visual storytelling that incorporates floristry, colour and iconography in the same way as the early Dutch still life paintings

What is incredible about these images, is that Harald is master of both subject and medium. Harald not only has to master the art of floral arranging in these photographs, but every aspect of these compositions has to be curated and photographed in a very tight time frame. From the abundance and choice of flora, the ranges of colour and texture, minute details artfully lit to painterly effect, all have to retain their freshness and luminosity before the flowers shift and alter, then wither and fade. With advanced lighting techniques and the best photographic equipment and huge physical energy, Harald’s large-scale compositions take the art of floral design and photography to new heights creating images that are at once transient, beautiful and eternal.