Luke Hardy: Dragonfly

Overview

The beauty in photography undoubtedly lies in capturing a fleeting moment and conveying it to the viewer. Dragonfly, an exhibition of photos by Sydney-based artist Luke Hardy, does just that. It's free and taking place at the Meyer Gallery during May as part of the Head On Festival.

Hardy's studies of Yabusame horsemen, the Japanese mounted archers, are the fruits of a nine year project by the artist. Yabusame is a Japanese form of mounted archery, originally conceived as training for Samurai warriors, which has more recently evolved into a ritualistic and ceremonial institution. Immersing himself in his art with a Zen-like dedication which mirrors that of these majestic horsemen, Hardy has succeeded in encapsulating their graceful movements and mesmerizing poise. His photos freeze these moments for posterity, creating hauntingly beautiful and moving works of art.

The dragonfly, which appears as an emblem on one of the riders uniforms, has a symbolic meaning for the Japanese: it represents mental balance, clarity and living life in the moment, as well as the reflecting and refracting the power of light. This makes it a fitting title for this collection of work, describing both the subject matter and the art itself.

Luke Hardy's photographs hang in private collections in Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. His images have been shortlisted for the prestigious Blake Prize and four times for Australia's Head On Portrait Prize.