2019-12-01_Harper__x27_s_Bazaar_Australia_UserUpload.Net

BILLHENSONlikestomakethings,
beautifulandintensethings,andhis
astonishinghome,studioandgarden
inMelbourne’sinnernorthis conducive
tothisvision.Theproperty,nestledat
theendofanunprepossessingstreet,
wasoriginallyusedtostablehorsesinthe
1880sandbecamea truckdepotduring
WorldWarII.Whatwasoncea bleak
cementyardis nowa lushgarden
(thewatertankscanhold50,000litres
ofrainwater),aninnercityoasiswhich
tookalmost 12 yearstoestablish.
“I enjoyrakingthegravel,”Hensonsays,
happily.“It’sliketheknownworldamid
a junglewhichis underyourcontrol.”
Henson’sstudiois reflectiveof
hisphotographicwork,a dramatic
chiaroscurocarefullystackedwith
antiques,objetsd’art,furnitureand
rare-editionbooks.OneofAustralia’s
pre-eminentcontemporaryartists,
Hensonrecentlyexploredthe
forgottencornersoftheMelbourne
suburbofGlenWaverley,wherehe
grewup,resultinginthedisquieting
seriesTheLightFadesButtheGods
Remain, exhibitedat theMonash
GalleryofArtearlierthisyear.
Henson’sworldis neitherhaphazard
norunconsidered,andheadmitshehas
nocasualrelationshipwitha camera.
“Eachshotcomestomeas an idea first.
I then go in search of it.”