Emma Coombes saw the sandstone walls and antique furnishings of the Henry Jones Art Hotel as less of a workplace and more of a doorway into another era.
The award-winning Huon Valley photographer spent five weeks living and creating inside the heritage-listed Hobart building and the experience reshaped her artistic practice entirely.
“I wanted to create a body of work that felt both familiar and distinctly Tasmanian,” Coombes said.
“The still life has a long history in European art, but I became interested in how it might be reimagined using the unique flora and fauna of our island.”
The result is Tasmanian Still Life, a solo exhibition of 28 photographic works opening at the hotel’s Packing Room on August 28 and running until October 4.
Rather than the exotic fruits and flowers of classical European still life painting, Coombes has filled her compositions with native plants, local fauna, handcrafted objects and historical artefacts.
Each image is carefully staged and photographed before digital techniques are used to build atmosphere and depth, creating works that echo the drama of Dutch and Baroque painting.
“By bringing together native species, handcrafted objects and historical artefacts with elements of whimsy, these works celebrate Tasmania’s rich natural heritage while capturing some of the wonder, mystery and storybook charm that make this place so unique,” she said.
Coombes said the exhibition would not have existed without the residency itself.
She said the historic interiors and character of the hotel became both inspiration and backdrop for an entirely new body of work.
Her photography has received national and international recognition, including selection as a finalist in the 2026 Australian Photography Awards and winning the People’s Vote Award for Professional Still Life in the 2026 ReFocus International Colour Photography Awards.
The opening reception is on August 28 at 5pm.
The exhibition is free and open to the public, with gallery hours from 10am to 7pm daily.
