David Collins is a young photographer from Perth, Western Australia who is making his mark in artistic circles with his lavishly detailed, large-format photographic stories that draw on biblical tales and Greek mythology as well as contemporary mores. Collins states that his intent with these photographs is to “transform our deeply held desires into tangible realities”.

In his exhibition White Rhino Collins presents a variety of scenarios along the same theme with images highly choreographed to portray the hedonism of today’s youth and its preoccupation with beauty, decadence and luxury. Collins’ images are sumptuous feasts of erotica, each a table on which the viewer is invited to dine, walking away from the image satiated by the breadth of each piece. Narcissistic, voyeuristic, pornographic, theatrical, pure fantasy - these are just some of the emotions that surface while looking at these intense, richly layered and textured images.

White Rhino is part of Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival and on show at Edmund Pearce Gallery.

Alison Stieven-Taylor

David Collins - White Rhino
Until 9 February 2013
Edmund Pearce Gallery
Level 2, Nicholas Building

37 Swanston Street (corner Flinders Lane)

Melbourne
Australia
Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 11am - 5pm