There’s a romanticised notion of the creative pulse of big cities, that evokes images of Studio 54 and a by-gone era of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe eloping with the hustle of the New York existence. It’s often what we associate artists with, as an actualisation of the pulse of youthful creativity and unbridled exploration. However, more and more, artists are rejecting this city existence for the creative reverberations of simplicity; finding their voice and passion in a slower, softer, country life. This is true of Jordan and Lucille, who are both talented photographers, keen collaborators, and partners. We were drawn to their story, as we wanted to understand what drew creative people to pack up their city life where their comfort and friends were, and find stillness on their own.
Although they had always flirted with the idea of leaving Melbourne for the countryside, it was the unexpected changes to life that this year has brought that lead them to take the dive. Up until recently, they had consistent freelance work, and something had always been there to hold them back. In their words, “feeling stagnant in the need for a new environment, and craving nature, we agreed to go with our gut and made the move… we thank ourselves that we jumped and now feeling very blessed we are here”. Since moving, they’ve embraced the inspiration that their new landscape offers. Lucille describes the beauty of the natural world they have access to now; “Our outlook from the house is a dense crescent moon shaped array of trees. I have felt like a bit of an intruder to the land, and environment as this is the home of so many wildlife species, so when I walk out to meet with it and inhabit it with my photography I tread lightly as I shoot. The skeletal trees, and the silent black tar roads have been very incorporated in my work presently. I am drawn to the silence and eeriness of these scenes.”
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“my work always keeps a fierce connection with me as it holds how I was feeling at that very moment”
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This landscape has inspired them both to embrace “fast mornings, long days, long nights”. They wake up early in the morning “from the sun spearing through the peak of our curtains, and the welcome sparrows singing outside our window”, and “ease gently into the night, pocketing ourselves away in our studios creating, working, and playing till our eyes give in”. Both Lucille and Jordan are photographers who explore an ever changing and pulsating creative drive. While they still both have a consistent photographic practice, Lucille delves into dance, photography, and design, while Jordan has an everevoling curiosity for design and filmmaking as well. They both use the term creative tool belt to describe the way that each art form works together to form a total expression of their spirit. Lucille’s practice predominantly centres around the forms of the body, particularly the female body, and is a vulnerable, true expression of self. In her words, “my work always keeps a fierce connection with me as it holds how I was feeling at that very moment”. Although she is inherently shy, she is drawn with curiosity to reveal parts of herself and components of the image that did not meet her eye. Jordan’s practice comes from a profound enjoyment for the process of the technology he uses, from the mechanics of the cameras to the gradual and steady transition to its final form. Currently, this passion has evolved into processing his own motion pictures in his home, and learning how to digitise them himself. But when considering the bigger picture he says, “I suppose more than ever my practice is about knowing and understanding every step along the way of making anything, whether it’s ruminating on ideas by the fire late at night or actively seeking out new materials to make new forms. Beyond the physical side of things I’m navigating through ideas and designing the way I can make images to further enhance and represent such convoluted inner sparks and messages I want to transmit.” They both describe themselves as fierce individuals who respect and honour each other’s personal spaces to create and the exploration that their practices take them on. It’s a harmonious parallel existence, of walking side by side in unison.
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“Jordy is incredibly integral, focused, immersed and driven within all of his artistic practices. I have always admired his knowledge and patience with learning a new skill, and then giving his entire self to it with an immense amount of passion”
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It’s no surprise that they have a profound respect and admiration for each other’s work. In Lucille’s words, “Jordy is incredibly integral, focused, immersed and driven within all of his artistic practices. I have always admired his knowledge and patience with learning a new skill, and then giving his entire self to it with an immense amount of passion”. It’s this passion that Lucille says breeds an emotive and unique array of visuals and ideas, which transcend the traditional cinematography techniques that he uses. In similar admiration, Jordan describes Lucille’s work as a butterfly, something you want to catch but will always slip by and flutter away; it’s something to be enjoyed in stillness and reflected on through sense, body and touch. In his words, “A nature within Lucille's work is like nothing else, I can really feel her inner voice speaking through her images”.
It’s no wonder then that they leaned into collaboration swiftly and deeply. Lucille describes the transition into a creative relationship as wholly intuitive, for her “it only felt natural to move together with our visions and use one another as muses, or subjects as we worked side by side”. After learning about each other's practices and dreams over the years, they’ve developed a strong non verbal understanding of the scenes they visualise, and the reward of a collaborative piece that is whole heartedly from them is always special. In saying this, both of their practices are fast, spontaneous and visceral, so there is often little planning of what their works together might entail. It’s the synthesis of their strong individualism, headfast support, juxtaposing of masculine and feminine energy, and their undoubtedly strong bond that drives their joint works. Lucille describes this best when she exemplified a their normal creative routine: “it’s usually a very quick moment in the kitchen or our studios of ‘I have an idea are you free now for a shoot’ and quite quickly we have an organically shaped, manoeuvred piece of creativity sparked by a moment in time, a feeling, emotion of the day or reflection. Something that is very special, we deeply cherish and have the tools and equipment at the ready to do so”.
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“I want to feel comfortable; peace and quiet soothes my soul... being amongst the trees, a flowing river or creek, a healthy diet, fulfilling relationships that challenge me and freedom to do what I please and things I deem good for me”
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They shared that currently they have a small publication in the works and their first film as their current projects, and we couldn’t help but ask what their dream projects are, if they could do anything. For them both, it involved a never ending supply of resources and equipment and lots of travel. In Lucille’s words, “ I am always hungry for more inspiration and new characters and feelings coming into my life. To create a piece harnessing all of that over time would be magical”. For Jordan, their travels would take them out of Earth’s atmosphere, “while having the option to land back on planet earth and other surrounding planets just checking it all out and getting a larger perspective on life”. Although they both have big, wild and fantastic dreams for their art, they also seek harmony, calm and peace in their lives. In Jordan’s words, “I want to feel comfortable; peace and quiet soothes my soul... being amongst the trees, a flowing river or creek, a healthy diet, fulfilling relationships that challenge me and freedom to do what I please and things I deem good for me”. They always want to come back to nature, and the soft embrace of the scenic landscapes that only a country life can provide. Lucille describes her desire for a “harmonious blanket to cover our earth and realign what is unbalanced”. This is the space in which they feel most creative, and where they want to showcase their works. In Lucille’s future she describes “a home out in nature, and out of the city that I have designed and helped build. There will be a room that is a gallery space dedicated to showcasing art, and holding performances. A big marble table will sit outside with a huge open backyard looking out to trees and nothing more!” It’s hard to doubt that this won’t happen for them both, their big dreams seem attainable given their talent, drive and passion for their futures.
Before we said goodbye we asked them our favourite question, “If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would you be?” For Lucille, she would find herself in “Cinque Terre, lying naked on a warm rock”, and for Jordan it was simply, “here”.
Lucille Bone // @___l_o_o_k_____closer
Jordan Kaye // @jordanjkaye