Digital Catalogue: 2024 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award
Tom Blachford
b. 1987 Melbourne VIC, lives Melbourne VIC
Kaufmann's Mistress (Arrival), 2024
archival inkjet print on Canson platine paper
edition 8/10
Image courtesy of the artist © Tom Blachford
Artist Statement
From the series Midnight Modern, the image shows the Kaufmann Desert house, considered one of the finest examples of International Style architecture in America, captured using only the light of the full moon and taken around midnight. A period correct Mercedes sits idle in the drive heralding the arrival of Mr Kaufmann's mistress, whom he built the house to spend time with.
The image created in 2024 could have easily existed exactly the same in 1960 and lives in both worlds at once, unable to tell if it is day or night, now or then.
About the Artist
Tom Blachford's fine art photography transforms familiar environments into surreal, dreamlike worlds through long exposures. He captures moments of clarity, color and mystery just beyond human perception, using his camera to explore dark, unseen realms.
Fascinated by architecture, Blachford's images serve as stages for unwritten narratives, inviting viewers to imagine the stories behind each scene. Relying on existing light sources - the moon (Midnight Modern), Tokyo’s neon lights (Nihon Noir), or LA’s streetlights (Noct Angeles) - he distils overlooked cinematic moments into images that evoke mystery, unease and wonder.
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