Image: 'Vinales' from Tierra Guajra Series by Raul Canibano, Cuba 2006
Alongside popular music, film and television, photography is the modern tool through which we transmit culture and its philosophies. As the complexity of the interrelationships between photographer, subject, photograph and audience has become more apparent, so are the ties to our social consciousness, culture and customs.
The photographic industry learns automatically from those who take the shots and at the forefront are photographers Meg Hewitt and Paul McDonald who are the co-directors of 10×8 Gallery. “There is so much incredible photographic talent in Australia and 10×8 is committed to introducing that talent to discerning art lovers from day one,” says Hewitt.
The vision of Hewitt & McDonald is to become an important location for global collectors. Located on the fifth floor of a heritage building 10×8 is a warehouse gallery that overlooks the Central Station railway line from Surry Hills.
The reach and respect is evident, the opening group exhibition features work from eight prominent Australian photographers from different positions of career and a diversity of specialty areas, Donna Bailey, Marco Bok, James Brickwood, Stephen Dupont, Rennie Ellis, Andrew Quilty, Alexia Sinclair and William Yang.
The exhibition also introduces celebrated Cuban photographer Raul Canibano who will feature at 10×8 later in the year. The photograph selected in the current viewing, Vinales, is taken from the series Tierra Guajura. The project is to document the lives and culture of Cuba as it undergoes major societal changes. A major retrospective exhibition is currently open in Miami, Los Angeles in America.
McDonald came to Sydney from Liverpool, England in 2001 and has been working to ensure the craft of photography is upheld. 10×8 will run a program of master workshops starting in May to coincide in association with Sydney’s Reportage Festival in May. The workshops will feature acclaimed Italian photographer Francesco Zizola, who has been awarded seven World Press Photo awards and Magnum photographer Alex Webb. (AS)
Until May 11, Level 5 / 56 – 60 Foster St, Surry Hills, free, 10x8gallery.com
BY ANGELA STRETCH
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