Photographer Allan Wright’s new exhibition offers a glimpse into a world where nature and art collide and is a ‘testament to the unpredictable beauty of analogue photography’
In a departure from the landscape photography he is best known for, Galloway photographer Allan Wright has unveiled a new, experimental collection of work.
Osmotic Reverie: The Alchemical Landscapes is a collection of new images on show at Castle Douglas’ new Samphire Gallery until the end of July.
Describing the work as “unintended artistry born from the interaction of analogue film with the elements”, the images came about when Allan discovered some of his original photographic transparencies had taken on a fascinating “osmotic” transformation during storage.
Subjected to fluctuating temperatures and humidity, the images now embody an array of altered states, “from microscopic petri dish wonders to apocalyptic visions of environmental collapse, dystopian scenes and psychedelic landscapes”.
Allan said: “This collection stands as a testament to the unpredictable beauty of analogue photography. No digital editing, AI or Photoshop has been used. Instead, these pictures celebrate the serendipitous creativity that arises from the physical interplay between film and its environment.”
He said they offer viewers a “glimpse into a world where nature and art collide in unexpected harmony”.
Here we feature four photos from Osmotic Reverie:
Lockerbie Echoes I: “a haunting view of Lockerbie architecture evoking memories and a sense of foreboding”
Just Kidding: “a portrait of Olivia and Leo, star in a fantasy scene that blends reality with imagination”;
Pirate Lasses Adventure: “a whimsical almost Dutch suggestion with young girls being together”
Psychedelic Nightfall on Cockburn Street: "this image captures the familiar scene of Cockburn Street in Edinburgh, but through the lens of alchemical transformation. The typical urban nightscape, with its glowing streetlights and bustling atmosphere, is overlaid with a surreal, psychedelic haze. The vivid, swirling colours evoke a sense of otherworldly enchantment, as if the viewer has stepped into a parallel universe where reality and dreams intertwine. The storefront sign reading Mind, Body, Spirit seems particularly fitting, suggesting a deeper exploration of consciousness and perception. The image invites viewers to reconsider their surroundings and find beauty in the unexpected fusion of the mundane with the mystical. The juxtaposition of the ordinary street scene with the extraordinary, almost cosmic overlay, creates a compelling narrative of transformation and transcendence"
Even in his day job, producing landscape photographs, widely published in the form of books, calendars, cards and prints, Allan says he likes pushing boundaries when he can, creating some abstract and urban work which interest him artistically.
Recently revised editions of his popular Galloway and Skye books will be highlighted at the exhibition.
First published in 1999, Allan’s coffee table book of Galloway landscapes is now in its third edition, with a new look and a portfolio of new photographs featuring some well-known scenes, including Port William and Threave Castle, and lesser-known corners of “this captivating corner of Scotland”.
• Galloway by Allan Wright, ISBN 978 1 905683 88 8, retails for £18.
