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Benjamin Liew

@benjaminliew

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My photographic exhibition for SALA 2026 has now concluded. It ran from the 2nd to the 16th of August at the Tibetan Buddhist Institute. Alongside my exhibit, two Tibetan monks meticulously crafted a Chenrezig Compassion sand mandala over the course of 15 days. Geshe Karma and Geshe Jamyang spent a few hours each day for 15 continuous days to build this beautiful work of art. On the 15th day we had a closing ceremony which consisted of me giving a 20 minute artist talk in front of 90 people about my photographs on the walls. This was followed by a dissolution ceremony; a ritual and chanting before the two monks swept the mandala away in mere minutes. We then proceeded to Grange Jetty where a small portion of the mixed up sand was poured into the sea at the end of the jetty.

For the most part, one picture a minute was taken while the mandala was being made, however during the dissolution ceremony, I switched the camera over to capture one photo every five seconds as the final act happens relatively quickly.

I used the Canon R6 MkII mounted overhead with some Kupo grip equipment and a geared tripod head, securely fastened with metal zip ties 3 metres above the table. The lens I used was a fixed 28mm Pentax lens and RF convertor kindly lent to me by my friend @samuelgravesphotography . I ran a 10 metre tether cable by @prismtether down the wall so I could control the camera without having to climb a ladder, and I used a Hahnel Captur trigger to fire the shutter every minute. This also allowed me to easily download images from the camera each time I visited. During the dissolution ceremony I ran EOS Utility from my laptop to increase the increments to 5 seconds which thankfully overrode the trigger.

My printed exhibition of 22 pictures across three separate projects, hung on the walls around the table where the mandala was being made. I’ll do a separate post about the artwork in my exhibition - I just want to share this timelapse with you.

Check out the link in my bio for prints from the exhibition that are for sale, including the final mandala picture. 100% of the profits from sales during the SALA period are donated to the Tibetan Buddhist Institute. taken in Tibetan Buddhist Institute by @benjaminliew

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a month ago

This is the finished sand mandala that took two monks two weeks to make. It remained as you see here for about an hour before it was ceremoniously destroyed in less than five minutes. Impermanence.

I photographed this final piece overhead with the @hasselblad X2D 100C kindly lent to me by Tom from @twincitycamerahouse and lit with @profoto lights. 100 Megapixels gives you the ability to ability to zoom in and look at all the fine details.

#profotoworldphotoday2026 @tibetan_buddhist_institute by @benjaminliew

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2 months ago

It’s such a different skillset to print your own artwork. Paper choice is important because each image reacts differently to the type of paper it’s printed on. Some images pop on one paper but details get lost in another. Then there’s the technical stuff - I was getting head strikes so I had to adjust the platen gap. Don’t even ask me to explain what that is. And then of course the cost of each ink cartridge and paper, whilst eye watering, is worth every cent.

Happy to say that my entire exhibition is now printed and ready to hang added of the opening this coming Sunday.

Here’s a little video of me changing an ink cartridge - enjoy the ASMR! taken in Cog Creative Space by @benjaminliew

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2 months ago

Ageless doorways. Moving trees. My new exhibition, Transient Nature, is a set of photographs exploring impermanence.

It opens alongside an intricate sand mandala, hand made on site by Buddhist monks over the course of a week, then swept away and put back into the sea.

Sunday 2 August, 2 to 4pm at the Tibetan Buddhist Institute.

This exhibition is part of the SALA festival and generously supported by the City of Charles Sturt Tibetan buddhist institute presents Transient Nature - Impermanence • Compassion • Wisdom. Tibetan sand mandala and photography exhibition. Experience a rare living tradition at the Tibetan Buddhist Institute. Visiting monks trained at Sera Jey Monastery will create a traditional sand mandala over several days, an intricate ritual symbolising impermanence, compassion, and wisdom. The mandala will conclude with a sacred dissolution ceremony. Alongside this, Adelaide artist Benjamin Liew presents photographic works including portraiture, and a contemplative series exploring transience, memory, and ancient architecture. A powerful meeting of ritual and contemporary photography, inviting reflection on the fleeting nature of life. Dissolution ceremony and artist talk 16th August 2026 2-4pm bookings essential via QR code The blessed sand will be placed in the ocean at Grange Jetty after the dissolution ceremony to represent impermanence and share blessings with all beings. Supported by The City of Charles Sturt. Opening event 2nd August 2pm to 4pm Exhibition hours 3rd to 16th August 2026 10.30am to 2.30pm daily. 8 Ross Avenue Flinders Park, South Australia taken in Tibetan Buddhist Institute by @benjaminliew

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2 months ago

A rare and extraordinary cultural experience is coming to Adelaide.

Join us at the Tibetan Buddhist Institute for Transient Nature, proudly supported by the City of Charles Sturt as part of the SALA Festival. Experience the ancient tradition of a Tibetan Sand Mandala created by visiting monks trained at Sera Jey Monastery, alongside the contemplative photography of Benjamin Liew.

OPENING EVENT
2nd August 2026
2pm to 4pm

EXHIBITION HOURS
3rd to 16th August 2026
10.30am to 2.30pm daily

DISSOLUTION CEREMONY AND ARTIST TALK
16th August 2026 2-4pm
bookings essential via
QR code or link
trybooking.com/1600534

The blessed sand will be placed in the ocean at Grange Jetty after the dissolution ceremony to represent impermanence and share blessings with all beings.

benjaminliew charlessturtsa salafestival by @benjaminliew

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3 months ago

He matched the tram. #fashun taken in Melbourne, Australia by @benjaminliew

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3 months ago

Street photography (on a Melbourne tram) with a Leica Q3. by @benjaminliew

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3 months ago

Mitchell, my little 7yo ninja. We often find really amazing light and he’s happy to be my muse (most of the time, anyway). We discovered this lighting in a basement car park - the late morning sun shone through some gaps in the wall. I grabbed the @hasselblad 907x, set the exposure and got this really interesting portrait of the sun on my son. by @benjaminliew

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3 months ago

What works better: my haiku, or the butchering of @aperfectcircle lyrics of By And Down The River?

Haiku:
“Pigeon on a ledge,
Hiding amongst the shadows,
Light uncovers her”

Butchered lyrics:
“Moving in and out of the shadows.
It’s no easy mission,
Being a pigeon on a ledge.” taken in St Pauls Cathedral by @benjaminliew

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3 months ago

Here’s a bit of shutter drag. Taken from the Mt Barker Steam Ranger as the landscape goes past the train window.

@hasselblad @c.r.kennedyimaging @steamrangerrlwy taken in Mount Barker, South Australia by @benjaminliew

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I’m trying to think of something smart to write about this image, but I’m lost for words. Then I realise my strengths lay not in my writing but in my vision. And by vision, I mean what I see, the random things, the fleeting moments, or just a plastic bottle partially buried in the sand. The water inside has evaporated, risen then settled, creating an interesting pattern.

I’ve been playing with the @hasselblad 907x with the CFV 100c digital back. Before you ask, no I don’t own this camera - @c.r.kennedyimaging kindly lent it to me to try out, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it. taken in Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, Australia by @benjaminliew

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