Harvey Benge (1944 - 2019)

We are very sad to hear of the passing of our friend and colleague Harvey Benge, who died peacefully on Monday, 7 October, surrounded by his children.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11am on Friday 11 October at St Mathews in the City, Hobson Street, Auckland.

https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=harvey-benge&pid=194101945

Harvey Benge at his exhibition, Aide Memoire and other Stories, Northart, Auckland, 17 June 2018. Photo by Geoff Short

Harvey Benge at his exhibition, Aide Memoire and other Stories, Northart, Auckland, 17 June 2018. Photo by Geoff Short

Harvey was a foundation member of PhotoForum, attending the very first meeting in December 1973. The first of his many photobooks Four Parts Religion, Six Parts Sin was published by PhotoForum in 1993, and he was instrumental in organising two major PhotoForum exhibitions Open the Shutter - Auckland Photographers Now in 1994 and Currency in 1995. His 1998 book Not Here - Not There and Vital Signs in 2000 were both co-published by Dewi Lewis and PhotoForum. Harvey's work was included in the 2013 PhotoForum book Pictures They Want to Make - Recent Auckland Photography and PhotoForum at 40 in 2014.

Harvey inspired many with his energy and dedication to his craft, his international success, and above all, his ethos to "keep looking, keep seeing, and keep making".

Harvey, you will be greatly missed.

Geoffrey H. Short
Director, PhotoForum Inc.

Read the many tributes to Harvey being written on his facebook page

Harvey Benge Over Tasman Sea, August 1996. From Not Here - Not There, Photographs by Harvey Benge, Dewi Lewis and PhotoForum, 1998

Harvey Benge Over Tasman Sea, August 1996. From Not Here - Not There, Photographs by Harvey Benge, Dewi Lewis and PhotoForum, 1998

Installation view of Nothing Is As It Seems: Harvey Benge Photobooks at Auckland Art Gallery, 17 Apr 2015 - 13 Aug 2015

Installation view of Nothing Is As It Seems: Harvey Benge Photobooks at Auckland Art Gallery, 17 Apr 2015 - 13 Aug 2015