News - 2008

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Event - Derek Henderson Artist Talk

01/12/2008 - IMAGES © Malcolm Smith

Set amidst his new exhibition I go down to the river to pray, Derek Henderson talks about the ideas and processes behind this recent series. I go down to the river to pray combines documentary and landscape photography resulting in intense 'anti heroic' portrayals of life in small town New Zealand.

Event - Trent Parke Artist Talk

25/11/2008 - IMAGES © Malcolm Smith

Trent Parke is the first Australian to become a full member of Magnum Photo Agency and is widely acknowledged as one of the most challenging photographers of his generation. In this floor talk Trent Parke discussed the dark forces that lurk beneath The Christmas Tree Bucket.

Opening - The Christmas Tree Bucket: Trent Parke's Family Album, Derek Henderson's I go down to the river to pray and Selected Works by Erwin Olaf

24/11/2008 - IMAGES © Ella Condon

The ACP welcomed in the silly season with the launch of three new shows from Trent Parke, Derek Henderson and Erwin Olaf. Guests came dressed in their Christmas best to celebrate the world premier showing of Trent Parke's latest series The Christmas Tree Bucket.

Images (left to right):

Trent Parke, Narelle Autio and their son Dash at the entrance to the Christmas Tree Bucket
Trent Parke and Narelle Autio
Children enjoying the exhibition and an early Christmas
Derek Henderson with guests in front of some of the work from his latest series, I go down to the river to pray

Daegu Photo Biennale 2008 - 31 October to 16 November

21/11/2008 - IMAGES © (1, 3 & 4) Daegu Photo Biennale, (2, 5 & 6) ACP

ACP Director, Alasdair Foster, attended the Daegu Photo Biennale 2008 as a guest reviewer earlier this month. Staged in the city of Daegu in the south east region of South Korea, the 2008 festival was put together by Artistic Director, Bohnchang Koo. The central exhibition, presented at the impressive EXCO exhibition centre, explored photography past and present from Korea, China and Japan, while further exhibitions were staged around the city. The festival included the work of more than 200 photographers from 10 counties and attracted a record 70,000 visitors in the two weeks it was on show. During an intensive two-day period at the start of the festival 25 reviewers from around the world reviewed the work of over 60 photographers.

Images (left to right):

'Then and Now' showing at EXCO, Daegu Photo Biennale 2008
An impressive nine tenors launch the festival
'Then and Now'
The Australian Ambassador, Mr Peter Rowe, speaks during opening ceremony, with the photographer and former Minister of Culture, Yoon Jooyoung (left) and the Chairman of the Daegu Photo Biennale, H. Edward Kim (right)
Alasdair Foster and Rhonda Wilson, Artistic Director of the UK photo festival, Rhubarb-Rhubarb, strike suitable poses in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea exhibition
Photographers and reviewers during a session of the Meeting Place

Panel Discussion - Witness: Photographing Human Suffering

19/11/2008 - Images © Malcolm Smith

Hosted by ABC journalist Mark Corcoran, panellists included Kate Geraghty, Stephen Dupont and Brendan Esposito. Panel members discussed the complex ethical and moral considerations involved in photojournalism.

Images (left to right):

Panellists (left to right) Brendan Esposito, Kate Geraghty, Stephen Dupont and Mark Corcoran
The crowd in attendance at the panel discussion

Opening - The 2008 Nikon-Walkley Press Photo Exhibition

05/11/2008 - Images © Ella Condon

The 2008 Nikon-Walkley Press Photo Exhibition opened at the ACP to a crowd of industry professionals and fans of Australian photojournalism. Chris Warren, Federal Secretary of the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Tamara Voninski, a past Walkleys finalist and James Murray, the Marketing Manager of Nikon opened the exhibition.

The Nikon-Walkley Photographic Awards are the most prestigious competition for press photographers in Australia. The 130 photographs will be exhibited at the ACP until November 15 after which they will move to Brisbane's Powerhouse Museum in February 2009 and Wallsend District Library in Newcastle from mid-March 2009.

Opening - Pedro Meyer's Heresies and Giorgia Fiorio's Human Figure

15/10/2008 - Images © Ella Condon

The ACP joined over sixty other galleries and museums around the world when Pedro Meyer's Heresies was opened last Thursday. Heresies spans five decades of work by one of the world's most innovative photomedia artists. The opening of Italian photojournalist Giorgia Fiorio's Human Figure was celebrated on the same night. This exhibition is part of Reportage 2008, a festival celebrating international and local photojournalism.

Images (left to right):

Alasdair Foster, Director of the ACP talks with Her Excellency, Mrs Martha Ortiz De Rosas, Ambassador of Mexico, who officially opened Heresies
Guests engage with the electronic archive included in Pedro Meyer's retrospective
A large crowd gather to view the work of Giorgia Fiorio, an exhibition presented as part of Reportage 2008

Tea with... the Celebrities

15/10/2008 - Images © Virginia Chen

This panel explored the inner workings of fame from the point of view of a fan, an industry professional, an internet 'celebrity' and an academic. Panellists included Richard Simpkin (Richard & Famous), paparazzi photographer Peter Carette, Youtube celebrity Natalie Tran (Community Channel) and Professor Catharine Lumby is the Director of the Journalism and Media Research Centre at the University of NSW.

Images (left to right):

Richard Simpkin, Peter Carette, Natalie Tran and Catharine Lumby
Richard Simpkin and the host, Malcolm Smith
Over eighty people were in attendance

Tea with... the Printers

15/10/2008 - Images © Virginia Chen & Malcolm Smith

For many photographers, deciding between pigment and analogue printing can be difficult and costly decision. In the discussion panellists argued the pros and cons of old and new technologies. Speakers include; Sandra Barnard (Sandy Prints), Warren Macris (Giclee Australia), Chris Reid (Blanco Negro) and writer/photographer Geoff McGeachin.

Images (left to right):

Geoff McGeachin talks with Chris Reid from Blanco Negro
Sandra Barnard from Sandy Prints with a black and white print
Geoff McGeachin talks with Warren Macros from Giclee Australia
Photographer, writer and ACP workshop lecturer Geoff McGeachin, hosted the panel discussion
Geoff McGeachin and panel members Chris Reid (Blanco Negro), Sandra Barnard (Sandy Prints), and Warren Macris (Giclee Australia)
Photographers listen in to the discussion

Opening - Avatar, Justine Cooper's Havidol and Richard Simpkin's Richard & Famous

09/09/2008 - Images © Zarica Purlija

The Superhuman series opened at the ACP on Thursday 4 September, the exhibitions Avatar, Havidol and Richard & Famous all address the possibilities as well as the pitfalls of being a mere human living in the modern world. These days, we all feel the pressure to be more confident, more self aware and more success focussed. But are the celebrities we aspire to be like actually real? If we could be whoever we wanted to be, who would we be? And ultimately; is just being yourself enough anymore?

Images (left to right):

Guests enjoy Richard Simpkin's journey from fresh faced teen to middle age as documented by over three hundred celebrity snapshots
Myfanwy Ashmore's Swing, part of Avatar
DJ Dog cranking out the tunes on opening night

Opening - Minutes to Midnight (Delhi, India)

25/08/2008 - Images © DRIK India

The ACP touring exhibition of Trent Parke's Minutes to Midnight opened in Delhi last month to an enthusiastic response. Launched by the Australian High Commissioner to India, John McCarthy, the exhibition opened at the High Commission and then transferred to the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS). Photography is still not widely recognized as an art form in India, but reports indicate that Trent Parke's images were "showered with praises for their sheer brilliance" by the many visitors to the exhibition.

Minutes to Midnight is touring in South Asia through the DRIK photo agency, Dhaka and the Chobi Mela photo festival. The presentation at the AIFACS, Delhi ran from 12 to 27 July, 2008. It was arranged by DRIK India and made possible through the continuing support of the Australian High Commission.

Minutes to Midnight premiered at ACP in January 2005, since when ACP has been touring the exhibition in Australasia, with a second edition of the exhibition touring South Asia. Trent Parke is a member of the Magnum photo agency.

Images (left to right):

Guests view Minutes to Midnight at the Australian High Commission, Delhi
Inauguration at the Australian High Commission, Delhi
Preparing to open Minute to Midnight at AIFACS, Delhi

Opening - Darren Sylvester Our Future Was Ours, Marian Drew Every Living Thing and James Brickwood Schoolies

05/08/2008 - Images © Emmanuel Giraud

Thursday 24 July saw the opening of three new exhibitions at the ACP; Darren Sylvester's Our Future Was Ours, Marian Drew's Every Living Thing and James Brickwood's Schoolies. These exhibitions will continue to 30 August.

Talking Shop - Darren Sylvester

04/08/2008 - Images © Malcolm Smith

Darren Sylvester discusses the genesis and realisation of the work in his first mayor survey exhibition. He revealed to the audience how his processes and techniques have evolved over the past ten years and what projects he has planned for the remainder of the year.

Opening - Generation C New Chinese Photomedia in an Age of Change (Raw Space Gallery, Brisbane)

11/07/2008 - Images © Raw Space Galleries

"mesmerising work of eight young photomedia artists from mainland China."
Alex Lalak, Daily Telegraph, Sydney

Curated by Australian Centre for Photography Director Alasdair Foster Generation C opened at Rawspace Galleries in Brisbane (Jun 28, 2008 - Aug 12, 2008). This exhibition showcases work by young photomedia artists from mainland China who reflect the ambivalence of their times. Born in the seventies they are the first 'me' generation - consumerist, connected and self-aware. They are vain yet vulnerable; wired yet lonely. They ride the rollercoaster of 'progress' while wistfully dreaming of the past. Abandoning any notion of the photograph as a document of the real each work is a performance, a visual fable that finds its truth in imaginative resonance rather than hard evidence. The exhibition, which is part of the Australian Centre for Photography touring exhibition program, will travel to the Adelaide Festival Centre, Artspace in July next year.

Images (left to right):

Australian Centre for Photography Director Alasdair Foster introduces the Generation C exhibition
Opening night
Opening night

Talking Shop - Sydney Stereo Camera Club

11/07/2008 - Images © Malcolm Smith

Members of the Sydney Stereo Camera Club presented a selection of 3D work from around the world, explained how it all works and talked about recent developments in 3D technology.

Images (left to right):

Members of the Sydney Stereo Camera Club demonstrate how to use 3D cameras
Members of the Sydney Stereo Camera Club demonstrate how to use 3D cameras
The audience photographed in fashionable 3D glasses

Opening - Minutes to Midnight (Kolkata, India)

04/07/2008 - Images © DRIK India

Trent Parke's acclaimed Minutes to Midnight, an ACP touring exhibition currently in India, has just completed a very successful presentation at Bose Pacia gallery, Kolkata (13-28 June 2008). The exhibition was officially opened by Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the Governor of West Bengal. Response to the exhibition by both public and media has been very positive, with media coverage reaching over three quarters of a million people.

Minutes to Midnight is touring in South Asia through the DRIK photo agency, Dhaka. The presentation in Kolkata was arranged by DRIK India and made possible through the support of the Australian High Commission. The exhibition moves to Delhi with an inaugural presentation at the Australian High Commission on 9 July followed by a showing at the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), Delhi (12 - 27 July, 2008).

Images (left to right):

Visitors to Bose Pacia Kolkata view Trent Parke's Minutes to Midnight
Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the Governor of West Bengal, opens the exhibition
Opening night

Opening - Hijacked

23/06/2008 - Images © Emmanuel Giraud

The ACP was officially Hijacked when the exhibition and book was launched on Thursday 12 June. The Sydney launch followed the success of openings in New York, Berlin and at Fremantle's biannual Photography festival, Fotofreo. Providing a voice for some of the most exciting and provocative new photography from Australia and America, Hijacked takes a road less travelled. The exhibition erases traditional boundaries between art, document and snapshot to point towards the future of contemporary photomedia.

Images (left to right):

A crowd gathers in the gallery to see the work of 44 artists from Australia and USA
Hijacked artist Janelle Ryan enjoys the ACP opening with friend
Australian Hijacked artists Emily Portman and Jack Pam sign copies of Hijacked Volume 1 Australia and USA

ACP represents Oceania at the First International Meeting of Photography Centres, Almería, Spain 30 May - 1 June 2008

07/06/2008 - Images © ACP

ACP was one of 20 photo centres from around the world represented at a meeting to establish a new global network. Initiated and hosted by the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía (CAF) in southern Spain delegates came from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

The three-day public conference explored issues of landscape in photography, cultural networks and the function of public collections. The meeting was marked by an exhibition, presented by CAF in their new exhibition halls, of 100 images from all 20 countries represented at the meeting. The exhibition was accompanied by a 150-page book. The Australian artists presented were Ray Cook, Sharon Green, Petrina Hicks, Trent Parke and Glenn Sloggett. Photofile magazine, representing Australia in the publications display, was highly praised by the international delegates.

The meeting concluded with the publishing of an agreement formally establishing an International Network of Photography Centres and the launching of a shared website (currently at: www.centrosdefotografia.es ). The next meeting of the network will be in Mexico in September 2009.

Images (left to right):

ACP Director Alasdair Foster (right) with Vaclav Macek, Director of the Central European House of Photography, Bratislava
Opening of the Enfoques (Approaches) exhibition at Centro Andaluz de la Fotografia
Part of the Australian exhibit
Delegates from France, Greece, United Kingdom and Israel at the conference
Alasdair Foster with Shirin Abu Shaqra (Arab Image Foundation, Lebanon) and Rui Prata (Centro de la Imagem, Portugal)
Publications display at the exhibition

Panel Discussion - Creatives V's Artists

22/05/2008 - Images © Malcolm Smith

Wednesday 21 May. Photographers discussed the ways they negotiate the competing agendas of creativity and commerce. Panel members discussed recent trends in the commercial sector, both locally and overseas, and the impact this is having on the ways photographers work.

Images (left to right):

Denis Montalbetti, Gay Campbell, fashion photographer Derek Henderson, and Alexia Sinclair
The audience, many of whom were photographers and graphic designers
Derek Henderson, Alexia Sinclair and the host, Marc Gafen, editor of Capture magazine

Talking Shop - Alexia Sinclair

15/05/2008 - Images © Malcolm Smith

Wednesday 14 May. Working with a live model and award winning makeup artist, Alexia Sinclair revealed the processes she uses, both in the studio and in digital post production, to create the stunning images included in the Phantasia exhibition.

Gallery Talk - Phantasia

12/05/2008 - Images © Malcolm Smith

Saturday 3 March. A large crowd gathered to hear artists Alexia Sinclair, Magdalena Bors, Simon Strong, Andrew Mamo and Mark Kimber talk about the work they have included in Phantasia.

Opening - Phantasia & Head On: Alternative Portraits

06/05/2008 - Images © Emmanuel Giraud

Phantasia and Head On: Alternative Portraits were officially opened by the Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore. A record crowd of over 900, packed into the gallery to welcome the opening of these two exciting new exhibitions.

Images (left to right):

Head On founder and Curator, Moshe Rosenzveig
Opening night guests eagerly anticipate the announcement of the Head On winners
Denis Montalbetti and Gay Campbell, Moshe Rosenzveig, Alasdair Foster, Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore, Richard Kendall and Brendan Esposito
Phantasia artists; Andrew Mamo, Mark Kimber, Magdalena Bors, Simon Strong, Alexia Sinclair
Opening night guests view the work in Phantasia
Guests get lost in the work of Alexia Sinclair

Head On winners announced

02/05/2008

Winners of the 2008 Head On Portrait Prize were announced tonight at the Australian Centre for Photography in Paddington to a record crowd of over 900 people. The show was officially opened by the Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore who presented the prizes to the 3 equal winners, Brendan Esposito for his image Sweet Dreams, Richard Kendall for his image Leonard & William at Alfred Hospital and Tobias Titz for his image Ginger Bob.

The 'Critic's Choice' went to Montalbetti & Campbell for their image Hazel & Ken Kelly. The winners of the competition received prizes with a total value of $32000 from Canon, Adobe, SanDisk, ACDSee, Focal Press and Dragon Image.

Visit Head On: www.headon.com.au

Images (left to right):

IMAGE © Motalbetti & Campbell Hazel and Ken Kelly
IMAGE © Richard Kendall Leonard & William at Alfred Hospital
IMAGE © Brendan Esposito
IMAGE © Tobias Titz Ginger Bob

Opening - ACP Workshop Term 1 Exhibition 2008

22/04/2008 - Images © Emmanuel Giraud

The work of the Term 1 2008 ACP Workshop students went on display in Gallery 3 showcasing the exciting and vibrant work generated by students from beginners commencing Camera Craft to professional photographers.

Images (left to right):

Students and tutors share photographs taken as part of their ACP workshop courses with friends and family

Opening - Certificate no. 000358/ Nuclear Devastation in the Former Soviet Unions by Robert Knoth, New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography and Singularity by Izabela Pluta

Thursday 13 March. A combined opening for Robert Knoth's Certificate no. 000358/, Izabela Pluta's Singularity and the New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography.

Images (left to right):

Photographer Robert Knoth talks with Andrew Male from Greenpeace Australia
Guests view the work from Certificate no.000358/
The secrets of science revealed in the New Scientist Eureka Prize for Science Photography
Guests in front of Izabela Pluta's monumental installation, Singularity
Izabela Pluta (left) stands in front of her work
Antoinette de Jong and Robert Knoth celebrate on the opening night with friends

Panel Discussion - Photoactivism

Wednesday 26 March. Greens MP Lee Rhiannon leads a discussion about the ability of images to penetrate the public psyche in our media saturated society. Panel speakers include Robert Knoth, Antoinette de Jong Dean Sewell and Michelle Thomas from Greenpeace Australia.

Images (left to right):

Guests listen attentively as the panel discusses the power of images to effect change
Panel members (left to right) Robert Knoth, Antoinette de Jong, Michelle Thomas, Dean Sewell and Lee Rhiannon

Tea With... Tobin Queer is dead. Or is it back? Or did it ever go away...

Sunday 24 February. Cultural firebrand Tobin Saunders hosted a discussion with controversial artist Scott Redford, Domino from Slit magazine, and queer film maker Shigeyuki Kihara.

Images (left to right):

Guests listening to the Sunday afternoon panel discussion
Domino talks with Shigeyuki Kihara
Panel members (left to right) Domino, Shigeyuki Kihara, Scott Redford and Tobin Saunders

Gallery Talk - Robert Knoth and Antoinette de Jong Certificate no.000358/

Saturday 15 March. A large crowd gathered to hear photographer Robert Knoth and Antoinette de Jong speak about the people and places in the former Soviet Union effected by nuclear testing and production since the early nineties. The exhibition titled Certificate no. 000358 Nuclear Devastation in the Former Soviet Union is currently on show at the ACP.

Images (left to right):

Robert Knoth and Antoinette de Jong reveal the stories behind the exhibition Certificate no. 000358 Nuclear Devastation in the Former Soviet Union

Call for Entries - Head On 2008

27/02/2008

Head On Foundation invites photographers to submit works to the 2008 photographic portrait competition.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION - Friday 11pm, 28 March 2008

Head On is the nation's major innovative showcase for Australian portrait photography, reflecting a vibrant, diverse cross-section of new and traditional photographic practices. Now in its fifth year, the show includes the work of 40 finalists, competing for prizes worth over $30,000.

Head On 2008 will open on 1 May at the ACP and will run until 7 June. Please see www.headon.com.au for further details.

ACP apologises that due to a printing error this image credit was inadvertently omitted from the Autumn Seasonal Brochure.

Images (left to right):

Joshua Heath Andy 2007. Head On finalist 2007

Talking Shop - Stephen Dupont Afghanistan

Wednesday 27 February. Photojournalist Stephen Dupont talked to over 100 guests about the photographs he has taken during magazine assignments and personal trips to Afghanistan since 1993.

Images (left to right):

Stephen Dupont talks to a full house in ACP Gallery 3

Talking Shop - Anne Zahalka Hall of Mirrors

Wednesday 13 February. Photographer Anne Zahalka talks at the ACP about Hall of Mirrors: Anne Zahalka Portraits 1987 - 2007. Curated by the Centre for Contemporary Photography and currently touring nationally, the Hall of Mirrors series developed out of Zahalka's interest in Dutch oil paintings.

Images (left to right):

Anne Zahalka talks about her exhibition Hall of Mirrors

Mardi Gras Slideshow

Wednesday 20 February. Clover Moore opens the Mardi Gras Slideshow in the ACP video lounge. Organised by Robert McGrath as part of the New Mardi Gras Festival 2008, the slideshow displays the photographic work of undergraduate students and photo bloggers who endeavour to capture the spirit of past Mardi Gras.

Images (left to right):

Damien Eames, Nudzejma Avdic and Clover Moore at the opening of the Mardi Gras Slideshow

Floor Talk - Claiming China

Saturday 9 February. The celebrated photographer and performer William Yang gave an artist talk exploring the background to his exhibition Claiming China. In a series of acutely perceptive images with text, the exhibition reflects upon Yang's experience of being an openly gay Australian and 'reclaiming' his Chinese heritage.

Opening - Claiming China by William Yang and Generation C: New Chinese Photomedia in an Age of Change

Thursday 31 January. A combined opening for Willaim Yang's Claiming China and Generation C: New Chinese Photomedia in an Age of Change.

In Claiming China William Yang reflects upon his experience of being an openly gay Australian man 'reclaiming' his Chinese heritage.

Genaration C, curated by Alasdair Foster, showcases work by young photomedia artists from mainland China who reflect the ambivalence of their times.

Images (left to right):

William Yang entertains guests at the opening of Claiming China
Guests mingle amongst the photographs of William Yang
William Yang being photographed by a member of the paparazzi
Guests view the work of Li Lijie in Generation C
Guests enter the Generation C exhibition
A video installation by Liu Dawei part of the Generation C exhibition