EXHIBITION: HALF LIGHT
BY TRACEY LIEN
Half Light: Portraits from Black Australia is a refreshing collection of photographs that are intimate, thought provoking, and a far cry from anything we’ve ever learnt in school about Aboriginal art.
The exhibition showcases the work of some of Australia’s best indigenous photographers, with portraits that are so strong and striking that it’s impossible for audiences to not feel a connection with the subjects of the artworks. Filled with large, detailed close-ups of faces young and old with piercing eyes that capture our attention right away ‘ this is a collection of work that engages its viewers.
The artists have taken serious cultural and social issues and, rather than beat audiences over the head with the same discourses we constantly hear, they have shed new light on problems that have been around for so long.
The real beauty of Half Light lies in the fact that the portraiture is so good it transcends national borders; even when taken out of the Australian context, the photographs still remain beautiful, personal, and memorable.
Until February 22, Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, 1800 679 278 or www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
