The New Light: Photography Now + Then exhibition at Museum Of Brisbane curates a fascinating spectrum of past and present photography, drawing on the prolific historic archive of the Elliott Collection, juxtaposed with fresh takes from contemporary artists.
The Elliott Collection collates the work of amateur photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) whose black and white imagery, which captured a bygone era of Brisbane, lay dormant for decades. . . Until it was discovered preserved in cedar cigar boxes, under a residence in Red Hill in 1983.
These photographs are one of the most significant collections of historical images of Brisbane.
The exhibition will span stills, camera equipment and original film and glass-plate negatives from the late 19th to 21st century. Plus, newly-commissioned artworks, created by seven Brisbane visual creatives, who have reframed Elliott’s singular gaze to realise fresh perspectives and new takes.
The new compositions come from Marian Drew, Jo-Anne Driessens, Joachim Froese, Tammy Law, Carl Warner, Nina White and Keemon Williams.
“Seven contemporary photographers personally connected to Brisbane have been commissioned to create new works responding to the incredible source material that is the Elliott Collection, while also reflecting on the biases and ambiguities found within the archive,” Exhibition Curator Elena Dias-Jayasinha says.
Image © Katie Bennett
“By layering their own perspectives, knowledge and experiences onto the collection, the artists will encourage new ways of looking at our past, our present and this place.”
In addition to the Elliott Collection and the new works, Museum Of Brisbane will also display an array of black-and-white photographic submissions sourced from the public during a callout earlier this year.
“At the heart of New Light: Photography Now + Then lies a dynamic conversation between the past and present where historic photographs and contemporary responses intertwine to tell powerful stories,” Museum Of Brisbane CEO and Director Zoe Graham says.
“This exhibition not only honours our rich heritage but also invites the community to contribute their own narratives, creating a vibrant tapestry of shared experiences.”
New Light: Photography Now + Then is on at Museum Of Brisbane from 17 August (2024) to 13 July (2025).
