Archive - The Other Portrait Exhibition
The Other Portrait Exhibition and Artist Self Portrait Exhibition
Trolley Dolly and 10 Seconds
Murwillumbah, NSW, 2019
Selected Archive Credit
During my time living in Murwillumbah between 2018 and 2019, I became actively involved in the local arts community through MAT19, the Murwillumbah Arts Trail, which connected artists, venues, and audiences across the region.
A chance encounter one morning at Keiths Cafe led to my introduction to Karen Rice, who was documenting MAT19 through a dedicated documentary film project focused on artists and creative activity throughout the trail. That introduction became a key point of connection into the local arts network and directly led to my involvement in exhibition activity during this period.
Through Karen, I was introduced to Chelle Wallace and Dev Lengjel, who were curating and developing The Other Portrait Exhibition and the associated Artist Self Portrait Exhibition, presented across two venues in Murwillumbah. I was invited to submit work for both exhibitions.
The Other Portrait Exhibition was presented at Proudfoots Loading Dock Gallery, while the Selfie Exhibition was presented at M-Arts Gallery, Murwillumbah.
My contributions to these exhibitions included the Trolley Dolly series and the 10 Seconds self-portrait work, developed in direct response to the exhibition themes. I was also involved in the physical installation of the exhibitions.
Trolley Dolly
Exhibited Work
Trolley Dolly is a photographic series addressing contemporary homelessness in Australia, with a particular focus on the increasing visibility of women experiencing housing insecurity.
The work was created using six abandoned dolls sourced from op-shops, combined with found and constructed objects, and photographed at various locations around Murwillumbah in 2019.
The series draws on statistical research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and homelessness advocacy organisations, alongside symbolic numerological references associated with care, protection, and community. The work challenges stereotypical perceptions of homelessness and foregrounds vulnerability, resilience, and invisibility within everyday public spaces.
Artwork details:
Digital photographic prints
Hahnemühle Museum Etching Fine Art Paper, 350gsm
Canon 6D, Canon 100mm lens
ISO 100, f/5.6
Framed size: 20 × 25 cm
Following the exhibition, the owners of Proudfoots Loading Dock Gallery acquired all six works from the second, blended, blue-toned Trolley Dolly series, which had been developed as a complementary promotional body of work alongside the exhibition portraits. The acquisition was informed by their personal connection to the site, having been aware that individuals experiencing homelessness had previously lived on the property prior to its redevelopment as a gallery space.
Assemblage and process imagery for Trolley Dolly, showing the physical construction, object relationships, and preparatory staging behind the final photographs.
Studio development process showing assemblage and production stages, early test placement, concept development, and the selection of found dolls and objects used to construct the work.
Final studio assembly of the dolls with completed props, documenting test shots prior to location photography.
Additional studio test images showing the completed dolls and objects immediately before departure for location shoots.
Installation progress view of the completed photographic series, presented as a framed grid.
Artist statement and research material supporting the Trolley Dolly series, outlining the conceptual framework, social context, and statistical references informing the work.
Self Portrait
10 Seconds
The self-portrait work 10 Seconds was developed as part of the Artist Self Portrait Exhibition and reflects a shift in personal visibility across my creative life.
Formerly working as a dancer and model, highly visible and physically present, this work acknowledges a transition toward a quieter, behind-the-scenes creative practice, operating through observation, authorship, and the camera.
Artwork details:
Black and white digital photographic print
Hahnemühle Museum Etching Fine Art Paper, 350gsm
90 × 60 cm
Artist Self Portrait Exhibition installation view, M-Arts Gallery, Murwillumbah, NSW (2019)
Installation view of participating artists’ self-portrait works.
Exhibition Installation and Context
Both exhibitions were installed in Murwillumbah in August 2019 and took place during a period of heightened cultural activity in the region. While not formally associated with the Olive Cotton Award, which was being presented concurrently at the Tweed Regional Gallery, The Other Portrait Exhibition and the associated Artist Self Portrait Exhibition emerged as a parallel, community-driven response within local gallery and town spaces.
Installation views, opening events, and public engagement were documented through on-site photography and community-shared media, reflecting the exhibitions’ reception and participation within the Murwillumbah arts community.
Facebook documentation and installation views, The Other Portrait Exhibition, Proudfoots Loading Dock Gallery, and Artist Self Portrait Exhibition, M-Arts Gallery, Murwillumbah, NSW (2019).
Facebook posts documenting public promotion and audience response to the Trolley Dolly series during The Other Portrait Exhibition, Murwillumbah, 2019.
Exhibition Context and Community Documentation
Selected social media posts and screenshots are included here as contextual documentation, recording public exhibition engagement, curatorial commentary, installation views, and community response during the exhibition period.
These materials are presented as archival ephemera, supporting the historical record of the exhibitions rather than as promotional content.
Final studio test image documenting the completed assemblage prior to location photography in Murwillumbah.
Acknowledgements
These two exhibitions were made possible through Karen’s generous support. She introduced me to the local art community, including Dev and Chelle. I stayed with her during this period, and she assisted with location scouting, transport, and holding reflectors during location photography. Her support was invaluable to the realisation of the work.
My thanks to Chelle Wallace and Dev Lengjel for their curatorial vision and invitation to participate in The Other Portrait Exhibition and the associated Artist Self Portrait Exhibition, presented at Proudfoots Loading Dock Gallery and M-Arts Gallery, Murwillumbah, in 2019.
I also acknowledge the artists, volunteers, and local community whose participation and engagement gave these exhibitions their vitality and relevance.
ART1 Archive Context
This page forms part of the ART1 Archive, documenting professional creative work, exhibitions, and cultural contributions undertaken prior to the launch of ART1 Fine Art Photography.
View other projects, and cultural initiatives documented in the ART1 Selected Credits.