By Kyra Gillespie
A captivating photography exhibition of Gippsland’s Aboriginal community Elders, leaders and artists ended on Sunday 30 July at the State Library Victoria.
The portraits are the work of celebrated Victorian photographer Angela Lynkushka who has worked with the Gippsland Aboriginal community for 18 years.
They show an empowering contemporary view of indigenous leaders.
In sharp contrast to many historic photographs of indigenous people, she asked each sitter how they would like to be represented in their portrait and encouraged them to choose the location and the way in which they were documented in order to show the links between culture, place and representation.
She views each portrait as a collaboration between the photographer, the sitter and the camera.
“Some chose to be photographed in their homes, and others in landscapes or locations to which they have strong connections,” she said.
Ms Lynkushka has worked as a photographer since 1978 and over four decades has visually recorded the cultural and socio-political landscape in Australia.
“Photography crosses all boundaries of language and culture – it tells a story.”
The portrait project emerged from Lynkushka’s work on another photographic project documenting youth culture in Victoria, which included young people from East Gippsland.
Elder Kevin Hood suggested to Lynkushka that it would also be valuable to photograph the older members of the community because ‘once the generation of Elders passes on, the history of the Gunaikurnai people at Lake Tyers will be lost. They are the most important’.
State Library Victoria Exhibition Manager Edwina Bartlem said the portraits are not only a celebration of the Gunaikurnai people today but also an important addition to Victoria’s social and documentary heritage.
“This exhibition of portraits coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that finally gave indigenous Australians a voice in the democratic process.
“In 100 years these images will show the Gunaikurnai people as they lived and as they chose to be represented today, not as someone else chose to represent them – a small but important step towards reconciliation.”
State Library Victoria is set to announce soon when the exhibition will be coming to Gippsland galleries.
