Page 55 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • ARTS
Human
connections
PHOTOGRAPHY
NorthSite Contemporary
Arts, in collaboration with the
Pacific Centre for Photographic
Arts, have curated a striking
exhibition of photographs
encompassing the work of six
global artists.
Soham Gupta, Angst, 2018, one-channel
projection, sound, 6.00 mins
Zhu Mo, image from the photographic
collection ‘Bright Bright Day’, 2014
Diverse histories, environments and Chinese artist Zhu Mo combines old
experiences spanning India to China, colour family photographs with the
Romania to Australia have converged photographer’s own modern black
in the NorthSite Gallery, as part of the and white images, acknowledging the
photographic exhibition Never So Visible. past and present in a family setting as
Curated by Cairns-based Pacific Centre eternally entwined. On the other side of
for Photographic Arts and founders, the continent, Soham Gupta explores the
husband and wife Sean Davey and Aishah vulnerability of humanity with his series
Kenton, the international exhibition shot in Calcutta, India, of some the city’s
features the work of six artists deeply most marginalised people.
tied to their own personal experiences. “Without patronise, these portraits reveal
Davey said the exhibition focuses on that we all exist in this world together,
each photographer’s unique position no matter how far apart – socially,
in the world. economically and geographically
“Never So Visible brings to attention six – we are,” Davey said.
artists deeply invested in their own “The more we are able to understand the
stories, explored through photography,” experience of others, while appreciating
he said. “Six webs from different parts our own as being of value, the better
of the world, six auteurs with diverse chance we have to empathise and
languages, families, histories and understand the differences that so often
experiences presented in one space, define us. This is what the medium of
revealing – rather than primarily photography is capable of.”
communicating – stories using the Never So Visible runs until 14 April at
medium of photography. There is no NorthSite Contemporary Arts, while the
singular approach; starting points range gallery is also running two photographic
from friends on holidays, as in the work workshops with Davey and Kenton over
Underpass by Spiro Miralis made in Italy, 13 and 14 April, with a limited number
to observations of subdued interiors and of spaces available. You can also view a
colourful exteriors in Ovidiu Gordan’s panel discussion of Never So Visible on
hometown village in Romania.” NorthSite’s website, or purchase works
Alongside co-curating Never So Visible, from the exhibition in the gallery shop.
Kenton’s own photographic work is
featured – providing an insight into her
and Davey’s domestic interior space and MORE: northsite.org.au
intimate relationship.
Another contributing artist, Sancintya
Mohini Simpson, has created a three-
channel project and sound piece with
vivid poetry illuminating her ancestors’
toils as indentured sugarcane workers.
55 • tropicnow.com.au