My name is Agnes Durbet, I am a Canadian in Australia.

I came to this country on a dream expecting to be disappointed by an all too rough reality. But I fell in a magic well of creative minds in the most unexpected place.

Visiting a friend who works out of sewage treatment and water filtration centers in and around Sydney, I went into the center of the earth and back, deep into the belly of the city where its guts had the gloomy look and smell of a putrid dragon. Most of the places are surrounded by glorious sceneries, offering a world of deep contrasts.

Industrial grounds in the mountains or on the ocean shores are hidden to the public but so ever extravagant and rich. The major theme is water in all its forms, salty or fresh, clean or soiled.

I started to collect photographs illustrating my journey, but then I came across a microcosm of incredible talented artists using their unusual visions and imagination to make a difference around them. A world of inspiration, storytelling, charades and intellectuals games started to unfold in front of my eyes.

I recognized it was once in a life time chance and unimaginable gift.

On the industrial sites, hard manual labor and thoughtful realizations were being accomplished by the yellow or orange shirt men. Treasures are often founded in the oddest places.

This is not one but two artists subscription.

One man on site fancies calling himself an ape, probably because humanity isn’t meant for him.

Ape is taking pictures of ephemeral scenes and adding a layer of mystery for you to discover. He is inviting the public into a guessing game full of humor and magic. There is a definite playfulness in his tableaux.  The result has a primitive feel, amazing depth, complex colours scheme, extravagant imagination and a definite creativity. He uses pieces of corroded metal to make mosaics, illustrating tales of hope. Beasts, fairies, demons and gods are hiding in all his photographs inviting your reason, your sight and your ability to escape from reality.

The artist is secretive and full of surprise. He fancies calling himself an ape, probably because humanity isn’t meant for him.

Ape ‘scenes are all telling fantastic stories from a different time and place, born in his imagination.

Beasts, fairies, demons and gods are hiding in all his photographs inviting your reason, your sight and your ability to escape from reality.

      ….Each minute aside from his contracting work he creates these amazing scenes.

Traveller, gems seeker, Ape was raised in Morocco from a French background. He came to Australia almost 40 years back and lived on and off a bush life for over 20 years to finally settle down in Sydney. He has his own contracting company.