I, Camera

Alice Ng, Andrea Borin, Andrew Ross, Autumn Israelsson, Barbara de la Peña, Brenda Liddiard, Céline Saye, Ceri-Anne Holliday, Cindy Robins, Ellie Tucker, Gabrielle McKone, Gebhard Krewitt, Gilli Bird, Hayley Kilgour, Iolo Adams, Jackson Hood, James Gilberd, Jim Simmons, Joanna Sunga, John Pennington, John Williams, Kate Rampling, Kelvin McDonald, Mark Beehre, Mark Coote, Mary Hutchinson, Mary Macpherson, Matt Grace, Maya Harding, Naomi James, Nick Servian, Pavee Ruk, Penny Scarborough, Reg Feuz. Saane Asi, Saurara Mozel, Stephen Trinder, Warisara Thomson, Zach Hitchcock

Photospace Gallery
37 Courtenay Place, Wellington, Aotearoa NZ

10 December 2021 - 29 January 2022

Curator's statement:

In today’s world, photographers and photographic artists turn self-portraiture to a huge variety of uses. It remains a powerful tool for the exploration and documentation of the self and for posing questions about the nature of ‘truth’ and ‘fiction’. For some, it becomes a political vehicle for investigating issues of race, gender, sexuality, and national identity, where the artist’s body may represent a metaphor for a broader, abstract concept. For others, autobiographical and diaristic work may take on a cathartic or therapeutic function. Performance and masquerade can be used in provocative and challenging ways to explore themes of masculinity, femininity, colonialism, power, history and cultural identity.

I, Camera is a curated exhibition focussing on the theme of self-portraiture. Photography is the most democratic of mediums, and this creates interesting interplays of ideas and perspectives. In keeping with Photography Aotearoa’s aim of ‘encouraging, enriching and inspiring photography in Aotearoa New Zealand’ we are inviting submissions from photographers and artists at all stages of their careers, from students and new graduates to established practitioners.

The definition of self-portrait is broad, but the images must show the artist and we are looking for a degree of depth or complexity that takes the images a step beyond the ubiquitous ‘selfie’ of social media. For example, they may explore the concept of identity or the self; offer the viewer a particular, intentional or edgy point of view; serve as a tool for addressing a social or philosophical question; or act as a metaphor for a more universal or abstract concept.

- Mark Beehre

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