Treasure Teachings at Clifton

The latest photographic work by Illawarra photographer, filmmaker and musician James Kates will be on show at Clifton School of the Arts this weekend.

His exhibition, Treasure Teachings, opens at 5pm on Friday, December 9 and runs through to Sunday night.

James grew up in Kanahooka and later spent 15 years exploring the northern Illawarra’s many natural attractions. He discovered a penchant for capturing the surf and what started as a hobby developed from filming mates while they were bodyboarding to creating a 96-page, full-colour photo art book titled Before the Story, made in partnership with streetwear label Deus ex Machina.

Now, the Port Kembla resident’s newest works are headed to Clifton as the focus of this weekend’s exhibition, and James has been kind enough to answer our questions about what we can expect and how his passion for film photography began.

What ignited your passion for photography and filmmaking?

Fear, ha! When the surf was big I’d prefer to document the action instead of taking part. I felt compelled to share all the wild things my mates were up to in and around the ocean.

What is it about the ocean and our famous coastline that inspires you to capture it on film?

That’s part of what I’m trying to investigate with this exhibition. Film is a good medium to encapsulate the ineffable and mirror an experience.

With digital cameras revolutionising photography, why shoot with film?

I began with a mate's Hi8 camera, taking turns with friends filming each other bodyboarding and making movies.

I’ve always gravitated towards those rougher nostalgic aesthetics, often experimenting with tapes, 8mm and 16mm cameras, as well sinking my teeth into analogue photography more recently.

I think the whole process adds weight to the images, it teaches you to slow down and be a bit more meticulous and thoughtful. When you do capture something that comes close to the feeling of actually being there, it’s a beautiful thing. It offers something deeper that you can’t really recreate with a filter. It’s similar to music in that way.

What are some of your favourite beaches to shoot in the Illawarra and why?

There’s a bunch between the Royal National Park and Jervis Bay. Certain nooks and crannies that are favourable on different wind/swell and lighting conditions.

I used to catch the train to Mystics from Dapto before and after school, hiding my backpack under the public school and paddling the river to the beach. That place feels like an old friend.

Earlier in the year I started frequenting the Curracurrong Falls. The waterfall is usually just a trickle into the ocean but one particular morning I lucked into a really rare combination of intense La Niña rainfall, huge swell and magic light.

What can we expect to see at your upcoming exhibition, Treasure Teachings?

10 hand-printed images by Sandy Prints and Chris Reid who are revered as the best and perhaps the only people left in Oz that do this type of darkroom enlarging. True experts in printing, so it was great to work with them.

The images will be coupled by a soundscape by long-time collaborator Russell Webster and we’ll also be selling a book that we made over the pandemic last year.

I’m hoping, as a whole, the show will reflect some kind of awe-induced trance and facilitate a nice community experience at this iconic venue.

How long has this exhibition been in the works?

It’s been a year since I released Before The Story (photo/poetry book/vinyl 7-inch record) with Russell Webster. I’d wanted to print/frame a set of larger-scale images since then and have been chipping away all year: shooting, posting negs [negatives] off and working with local framers.

What’s behind the name, Treasure Teachings?

From my little understanding, it stems from a Buddhist idea that refers to some kind of truth revealers in auspicious times that can come in many forms. In this case, I’m suggesting these places are teachers and can offer insight into the nature of how things are and our connection to them.

I think the overarching theme is how we interact on a metaphysical level with those awe-inspiring places around parts of our coast and the need for those transcendent moments in our daily lives, especially as a means to tap out from the overstimulation of our screens.

You also find time to make music in between your photography and filmmaking endeavours. Can you tell me about your musical projects?

Yeah, I play in a couple of bands. I’m actually writing this on a bus on my way back from a South Coast tour with The Pinheads. I also play with Shining Bird and Steve Bourke (Step Panther, Hockey Dad).

The Bird and Pins have been recording and touring for around a decade now. It’s always a bit of a juggle, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.