Exhibition captures the beauty of the underwater world

A new exhibition which combines science and art to capture the beauty of the underwater world will open tomorrow (September 10) at Invercauld House in Lismore.

Marine Moments, by Dr Amanda Reichelt-Brushett and Professor Peter Harrison, from Southern Cross University’s School of Environmental Science and Management, will be opened by visual arts lecturer John Smith.

The exhibition highlights the role the underwater photographer plays in capturing images of extraordinary and beautiful marine life. It includes stunning underwater photos taken by Professor Harrison, and paintings, inspired by those photos, by Dr Reichelt-Brushett.

Dr Reichelt-Brushett, who is an environmental scientist specialising in marine pollution, has been creating and exhibiting marine art for more than 10 years.

“Peter was showing me some of his underwater photos and offered me the opportunity to use them for my paintings. The exhibition is a great way of showing the important role photography plays in inspiring underwater art. Unlike landscape painting you can’t paint underwater scenes in real time,” she said.

“It also shows the creative side of scientists. We can really see the beauty of what we are working with, but we also add that scientific perspective.”

There will be more than 50 paintings and photographs on display, all of which will be for sale. The exhibition will be held at Invercauld House, Invercauld Road, Lismore, until the end of November.

Photo: This painting titled 'Symbol of symbiosis', by Dr Amanda Reichelt-Brushett will be part of the Marine Moments exhibition which opens at Invercauld House in Lismore tomorrow.