William Ricketts Sculptures Beautiful Historic Place Prints

Home  / Photo Art Index / Landscapes-Places Photos / – Stone Index

Photos of William Ricketts Sculptures – Beautiful historic sanctuary deep in the forests of the Dandenong mountains Australia, by photographer Paul E Williams

Wonderful William Ricketts Sculptures – Historic Sanctuary Australia 1996

Black & white art photos prints by Photographer Paul E Williams. Taken in 1996.

Photos of William Ricketts Sculptures – Beautiful historic sanctuary deep in the forests of the Dandenong mountains Australia. Art photos of the enigmatic sculptures of William Ricketts hidden deep in the undergrowth of the forests of Mount Dandenong near Melbourne. Black & white art photos prints by photographer Paul E Williams

“William Ricketts Sanctuary is tucked away in the Dandenong mountains near Melbourne in southern Australia. I visited it on a misty day which added to a sense of mystique that hung over the heavily wooded sanctuary. William Ricketts sculptures are incorporated at the top of natural rocks and are situated in deep forest undergrowth. As you walk around the sanctuary the sculptures appear suddenly out of the dense foliage in a startling manner.

The power of William Ricketts vision was of a modern Australia that embraces Aboriginal spirituality and respect for the natural world was his general message throughout his artworks. Ricketts was though a controversial figure and some believe that his beliefs and his sculptures are steeped in racism, exploitation and primitivism. That is hard to see in his work but I am not an expert on Ricketts writings. The sanctuary is though rather a magical place.

His art is not totally to my taste but his imagery is powerful and certainly worth recording on film. I hope you enjoy this series”. Paul E Williams 2023