Part of FotoFreo, the City of Fremantle’s biennial photography festival, Divergence: Photographs From Elsewhere opened to the public on Wednesday evening at the Midland Railway Workshops.

A project initiated by FORM, this was no ordinary exhibition but rather a showcase of installations, projections and collections of photographic works in and around the iconic industrial space that dates back to the early twentieth century.

Photography by Matt Biocich.

The juxtaposition of heavy machinery against aesthetically pleasing imagery is visually and mentally stimulating; prompting thoughts of connections between space and place, preservation and progress.

The colossal collection of more than sixty photographers based across fifteen countries includes twenty-four Australian artists and aims to ‘demonstrate photography’s unique ability to communicate across cultures, connect diverse people, create debate and stir emotion’.

Making up a large part of the 2012 FotoFreo programme, Divergence: Photographs from Elsewhere has placed a strong focus on contemporary Indian photography and includes Sohrab Hura’s images of religious rituals, Ketaki Sheth’s images of twins and Bharat Sikka’s representations of modern-day India.

FORM’s The Pilbara Project is also showcased – a range of evocative images that radiate both the isolation and majesty of our states unique and unforgiving northern regions.

Personal favourites were Ed Janes three-year documentation of the abandoned South Fremantle Power Station, and an emotive documentary humanizing female prostitutes and drug addicts in Sydney.

Divergence: Photographs From Elsewhere runs until Wednesday to Sunday 10am-4pm until April 15 in Block Two at the Midland Railway Workshops, do yourself a favour and go check it out.

By Lisa Morrison.