Monash Memo - 13 June 2001

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Seeing Australian art through German eyes

An exhibition of innovative contemporary Australian photographic art originally assembled for German audiences is now on show at the Monash University Gallery.

Lightness of Being: Contemporary Photographic Art from Australia comes to the gallery after touring venues in Berlin, Stuttgart, Chemnitz and Velbert.

It showcases current works by 15 leading Australian photographic artists which highlight socio-political, aesthetic and technological viewpoints.

Curated by Australian Bernice Murphy last year, the show was organised in conjunction with the New Berlin Art Association.

Gallery marketing manager Ms Nicola Vance said the photography in the exhibition was used in innovative ways to distort, digitise, document and comment on various issues in Australian contemporary art.

These included issues relating to feminism, post-colonialism, sexual identity, Indigenous culture, technology and spirituality.

She said the exhibition included a wall installation by artist Peter Kennedy that featured images from World War II.

"His work, 'Seven people died the day I was born - April 18, 1945', represents the totality of loss and the vastly different experiences of Australia and Germany during the war," she said.

Other artists included in the show are Pat Brassington, Destiny Deacon, Jane Eisemann, Anne Ferran, Fiona Foley, Bill Henson, Rosemary Laing, Fiona MacDonald, Tracey Moffatt, John Nixon, Susan Norrie, Mike Parr, Patricia Piccinini and Robyn Stacey.

Lightness of Being will run until 7 July. For inquiries, contact extn 54217.

Caption: (From left) Centre for Contemporary Photography public programs coordinator Mr Daniel Palmer, Monash's visual culture department head Ms Anne Marsh, curator Ms Bernice Murray and artist Ms Anne Ferran.