Contemporary Australian photography is hitting its strides even in an image-saturated world. Photographers such as Trent Parke, Narelle Autio, Petrina Hicks, Tamara Dean, Murray Fredericks and Alexia Sinclair are showing an edgy side to photography, with iconic images now fetching tens of thousands of dollars.
And rather than the traditional images of the Australian bush, the ones that linger are often disturbing.
A young woman with a pale complexion and a budgie in her mouth by Hicks, and released in 2005, recently sold at Deutscher and Hackett Fine Art Auctioneers for a record price of $68,750 (includes buyer’s premium).
Initially sold for $3000 when it first appeared, it turned out to be a great investment for those who purchased the limited edition (only six were produced). Toby Meagher, a co-director of The Michael Reid Gallery in Chippendale, Sydney, explains why images, such Hicks’ Shenae and Jade, the woman with the budgie, are highly sought, both in his gallery and on the secondary art market.
“As with a number of significant works, the image of the budgie is both beautiful and obviously disturbing at the same time. It’s that type of image that becomes immortalised and creates huge interest with buyers,” says Meagher.
The Michael Reid Gallery is a “who’s who” of the contemporary photographic scene, even though it also represents artists in other media. Dean, whose photography sells for between $10,000 to $15,000, is also on the rise.
Dean’s photographs having been touring around Australia at various galleries for the last three years. Based in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, she often depicts floating figures suspended above a swimming pool that was custom-made to allow her to create the surrealistic images she produces.
“Petrina and Tamara’s photos regularly sell out completely when they’re first shown and people are continually looking for their work, whether it’s in a gallery or sold on years later,” says Meagher.
Other photographers of note, are, according to Meagher, are Trent Parke and his wife Narelle Autio, known for their distinctive images of the Australian desert as much as their coastal scenes, with prices that head north of $30,000.
Ferran (who requested her surname not be used) has been collecting photography – as well as art and sculpture – for many years. Her home in inner-east Melbourne, designed by Melanie Beynon, is saturated, not just with colour but with extraordinary images.
As well as a key work by Argentinian photographer Romina Ressia of a woman hiding behind an acid-yellow crocheted mask (and also included in the Louvre Museum’s permanent collection), there’s an impressive display of Australian photographers – Sinclair, Joseph McGlennon, Dean and Hicks, the latter featuring a smaller version of Shenae and Jade.
McGlennon’s parrots and cockatoos are placed against wallpaper designed by artist Kate Rhodes, whose furniture, objects and lights form part of the art experience. “I never buy something just for the name. I have to love the work to start with, something that I’m immediately drawn to,” says Ferran.
In her dressing area are two photos by Alexia Sinclair, each one purchased for around $10,000. Both subjects, young women, appear in the garb of the late 18th century; think of Marie Antoinette, with her bird’s nest-style wigs.
“Alexia actually makes everything that you see in these images, from the hand-painted dresses to the accessories and props,” says Ferran. While Sinclair’s Royal Swan photograph looks like the subject is talking on her mobile, she is actually stroking the swan’s neck.
Contemporary Australian photography seems to be hitting a renaissance Down Under, compared to some other countries, where according to Meagher, places like London tend to be more interested in nostalgic photography.
“I just returned from Photo London (the UK’s largest photography event). They still have this strong fascination for more of the cultural images from the past, such as those taken of the Rolling Stones.”
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Stephen Crafti is a specialist in contemporary design, including architecture, furniture, fashion and decorative arts.From our partners
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