A Review of Night Sky Rising at Lamb Arts, London

On the northern coastline of Mallorca lies the idyllic beauty of Deià. Yet, this seemingly sombre pueblo has far more than meets the eye.

Creative luminaries, from the golden era of Hollywood to late 20th-century novelists, have all taken a well-earned sabbatical upon its shores. Most notable is the poet and novelist Robert Graves, who was so captivated by its charms that he never left.

Like Graves, British-born photographer Kate Bellm, after a bout of continent-hopping wanderlust, was so mesmerised that she too has decided to call the Balearic hamlet home. Bellm's debut solo show, Night Sky Rising at LAMB Arts, has its focus on Deià, which glistens bright.

Approaching the gallery on an unusually mild, clear November morning (perhaps Bellm has brought a taste of the Balearics with her), one is struck by a sheer iridescent spectacle. Engulfed in subterranean indigo, a pack of svelte, nymph-like beauties ripple through the frame. It's a fine hors d'oeuvre for the show's two recurring themes: the beauty of nature and the feminine frame.

First and foremost, it's Mother Nature that greets us as we enter. A population of cacti, wind-swept palm fronds, succulents, and mountainous vistas are whipped into an atomised, sun-licked bliss. Pink, peach, and purple hues are prominent.

Evident is the freedom of the subject to get their kit off and embrace the lens with a lascivious gaze. The sororal nymphs make a welcome return too, this time in an eternal interlocking embrace, all bare bottoms, knees, and whips of blonde hair.

Even in the calmest lagoon, variables such as the lack of light, oxygen, and communication can make shooting underwater a technical haphazard. Yet, just as the aforementioned landscapes were captured when Bellm was heavily pregnant, thus limiting her mobility, it's the seeming restrictions of nature where the photographer truly flourishes.

Written by Jono Namara, a contributor to Arteviste.