Dunsborough photographer Christian Fletcher invites artists from around the region to explore what art is

The studio of one of Australia’s most iconic landscape photographers was packed with much more than photographs these past few weeks as artists from across the region came together to explore what art is. World renowned landscape photographer Christian Fletcher was one of 140 South West artists to open up their studio for the 2024 instalment of Margaret River Open Studios, inviting 23 others to exhibit their work alongside his own within his Dunsborough gallery. The exhibition is called Art Is, with Fletcher inviting artists into his studio to interpret his photographs in their own style to then be displayed alongside the original image. “This is a true collaboration, and I think all good things happen from collaboration,” he told the Times. “As a whole, this exhibition is a great experience. “We all put a heart and soul into something that is bigger than each of us individually.” The resulting artwork ranged from photorealistic oil paintings, intricate sculptures, woven fabric to some particularly characterful plates, all on display with Fletcher’s photographs. Fletcher said he had been taking part in the open studios for the past six years, but had only been running the collaborative exhibition for the past three. He said the idea came from his art-loving wife with even their first attempt drawing in a crowd. “This is definitely a highlight of our year,” he said. “Through this collaboration people can come in and see more than 20 different artists all at the same time. “I love this, it’s so humbling these other artist agree to be part of this.” Fletcher said the quality of work had stepped up each year and working with other artists encouraged him to create more. “As a photographer, you sometimes feel like you’re just pushing a button, so it can always be hard for me to accept that what I do is good, or a form of art. “I’ve always wanted to be accepted as an artist, so to have that collaboration and feel like what you’re doing is appreciated by others, it feels like we’re all in the same group. “I’m one of the gang.”