The Suspended Moment

Australian photographer Tamara Dean presents her newest exhibition of photographs, The Suspended Moment
at Michael Reid Sydney, which furthers her employment of a purpose-built underwater studio. In this remarkably magic new series, Dean creates sumptuous still life compositions that contradict their genre, presenting animated scenes that appear to defy gravity.

Pulling from the rich symbolism found in 17th century Dutch Still life painting, The Suspended Moment presents vignettes of distinct palettes, through which carefully selected objects appear to
perform. Aside from one delicately placed hand in Love and Desire, Dean allows her objects to soley
narrate her story. By removing the figures that typically populate her photographs, Tamara Dean

raises existential questions in beautifully tense ways.

The symbolism found in The Suspended Moment alludes to debates concerning the climate emergency as well as the omnipresent threat of increasing natural disasters. The gentle buoyancy of Tamara Dean’s fruit, fabrics, and flowers, imitate an increasing loss of control, bringing a touch of poetry to an
alarming, yet crutial environmental discussion.