Desert and Dust
A Visual Study of Namibia’s Raw and Earthy Aesthetic
by lens-based artist Lizane Louw
Desert and Dust is a fine art photography project exploring Namibia's raw and captivating beauty. The project is a curated collection of photographs captured during a road trip in Namibia in 2019. This developing series of work showcase awe-inspiring landscapes against the barren desert backdrop of the Namib.
The colour palette of the landscapes is striking, with warm, golden hues dominating these Namibian desert scenes. Lizane captured the intense heat of the desert sun, which bathes the sweeping dunes and rugged rocky outcrops in a warm, golden glow. The work introduces us to the everchanging vistas of the landscapes, the desert sand's rough textures and sunburned stones.
With the use of line, shape, colour and texture, Lizane captured the contrast of the landscapes allowing the viewer to experience the full range of the natural beauty of this incredible country. Viewers are invited to immerse themselves in the world of scorched sand, burned stone, and cerulean sky. We are called to pause and experience the meditative stillness and tranquillity of these desolate landscapes and abandoned spaces.
Desert and Dust is a celebration of the raw, unspoiled beauty of Namibia and an invitation to the viewer to experience the same sense of awe and wonder that inspired the creation of this body of work. The images in this growing collection aim to capture the Namib desert's ruggedness and stillness.
Whether viewed as a single photograph or a series, Desert and Dust showcases the beauty of the most unexpected places. You are invited to look and then see and, in the end, to immerse yourself in this otherworldly desert landscape.