PROOF is a photo documentary-based exhibition which foregrounds the NT/Top End as a photographic subject and the work of largely NT-based photographers.
The exhibition is initiated by the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA), Darwin, the NT’s leading independent public art gallery dedicated to contemporary art and now in its 26th year of operation.
“Photography is a popular art form practiced and appreciated by professional and lay people alike” said Maurice O’Riordan, co-curator and Director of Northern Centre of Contemporary Art. “PROOF provides an opportunity to the public to appreciate the depth of photographic practice in the Top End” said Mr O’Riordan
The first edition of PROOF took place in 2014 as an exhibition over two venues: NCCA and at the Darwin Waterfront. It showed the work of 13 photographers,mostly from the NT but also with national and international representation.
Darwin audiences will get a unique glimpse into the diverse photographic practices capturing and depicting the landscapes, issues and day-to-day life in the Top End. For the exhibition, the ‘Top End’ takes in northern Australia as well as Darwin’s northern neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
“It’s our second photographic exhibition which foregrounds photography and photographic documentary in a contemporary art practice. The works capture that elusive quality that makes up the Territory and celebrate moments peculiar to our region” said Mr O’Riordan
Miriam Charlie for example, chose eight images to be shown. They’re part of her recent project – My Country No Home which speaks to housing issues in Borroloola. Whereas, the Indonesian artist Dito Yuwono, in his evocative series The Secret Garden of Ledok Timoho, combines portraiture and landscape with simple everyday scenes in a garden to portray a series of green-thumbed squatters posing in a luscious garden. A highlight for Darwin artists, is a series of photographs from Fiona Morrison’s photo essay At The Studio – making in the top end which captures the intimate world of studios artists inhabit and verifies Darwin’s rich, eclectic contemporary art scene.
In 2016, NCCA continues a dual-venue presentation of PROOF, at the NT Supreme Court Foyer and in the lane directly across from NCCA, with the exhibition co-curated by NCCA Director Maurice O’Riordan and Darwin-based photographers Glenn Campbell and Aaron Burton.
Photographers for this year’s PROOF at the NT Supreme Court foyer:
Miriam Charlie (NT) Sean Davey (ACT) Liss Fenwick (NT) Rossanne Pellegrino (UK/Australia) Dito Yuwono (Indonesia) Michael Marzik (Qld) Peta Burton(NT) Max Hynes(NT) Fiona Morrison(NT) Glenn Campbell (NT)
Sean Davey, Taxi Driver, 2016, 35mm photograph; image courtesy of artist