Welcoming the second PSC Symposium at the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, are highly famous figures in the arts circuit. Our speakers are united in their interests in subject matters pertaining to 'culture', which is what our main point of discussion will be for the event. The concept of 'Borderless Futures - Reimaging the Citizen' points to a very crucial issue that affects everyone in our present day society, as populations shift about, lending a majority of people to live in places disconnected to their ethnic roots. Moreover, the role of photography and visual imagery today is more powerful than ever, as the individual now has total control over how he or she is represented. We look at the way visuals in the past have taught us to learn about our own histories, and question the protrayal of certain cultures by those who were given the power to capture identities.
At the PSC Symposium, the experts will take the floor, talking about their work and the question of what it means to be a 'global citizen' today.
Here's our list of some people to watch out for:
Daniel Boetker-Smith
- Co founder of Photobook Melbourne, Director of Asia Pacific Photobook Archive
- Writes for Vault Magazine, Photoeye and Photofile
- Winner of Bowness Photography Prize, Australian Centre for Contemporary Photography Award (documentary) and the Substation Art Prize
- Curated two international photobook events for NGV (Victoria) and MCA (New South Wales)
- Has been on the jury list for the Kassel Photobook Award in Germany
Anat Cossen
- Born in Israel, where she exhibited work at the Tel Hai Museum of Photography
- Certified in fine arts (she’s highly skilled in pencil sketching and interior design) receiving her MFA in Fine Art Photography from RMIT
- She’s a professional commercial portrait photographer
- Exhibited work at the Linden Gallery, Edmund Pearce Gallery and Open Space Gallery
- Influenced by themes of ‘identity’ in her work
Philippa (Pip) Kelly
- Creative producer for Asialink Artists in Residency Project Exhibition
- Worked for ABC, SBS, Lonely Planet TV as producer/writer
- Has a background in Anthropology (University of Western Australia)
- Directed community on-screen projects for The Queensland Museum and Oxfam
- Apart fro freelancing, she works as a filmmaker for The State Library of Queensland
Sanja Pahoki
- Croatian born Australian photographer
- Winner of 9 grants-awards including The Helsinki Studio Residency (Australian Council for the Arts), The Ian Potter Cultural Grant, The Australian Postgraduate award and the award for Critical Merit from the George Paton Gallery (University of Melbourne)
- Her work has been exhibited more than 80 times, at venues such as Project Space (Melbourne), Sarah Scout Gallery, The Centre for Contemporary Photography (Melbourne) and at Centre Place (Melbourne) and the Melbourne Exhibition Centre
- Her work observes elements concerning the idea of ‘self’, identity and anxiety
- Currently is a lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts and The University of Melbourne
Les Horvat
- Commercial photographer with over 20 years of experience in the advertising industry
- Winner of the Kodak Professional Achievement Award, the Ilford Trophy for Black and White excellence and various Silver Awards at The APPA’s
- Established ‘Twilight Zone Studios’ as the centre of commercial photography in the professional world
- Has had his work exhibited in Korea
- Is currently a Senior Fellow at PSC
Alasdair Foster
- Was Founding Director of Fotofeis (Scotland)
- Former Director of Australian Centre for Photography
- Has worked on various media projects as artist, curator, writer, editor, policy advisor, researcher and photographer
- Current ambassador for the Asia Pacific Photo forum
- Founding Member of the International Network of Photography Centres
Kristian Häggblom
- Senior lecturer at La trobe University
- Exhibited his work in more than 30 venues across the world; Tokyo, Finland, Switzerland, Malaysia and Los Angeles
- Winner of 11 photography awards from The Nomura Cultural Foundation, The Leica Documentary Photography award (Centre for Contemporary Photography) and the Swiss Arts Council
- Established and curated the RoomSpace gallery in Japan (Shinjuku)
- Currently researching the role of photography in surveillance and its socio-political effects
Hugh Hudson
- Lecturer and Information-Research Development Coordinator for PSC and Honorary research Fellow for The University of Melbourne
- Writer of the 1800 edition electric catalogue for publications in the Autograph Collection (15th – 20th Centuries) for The State Library of Victoria
- He has been published 36 times in Art magazines, journals and books concerning Renaissance and Medieval art (Antiques and Art, Paregon, Arth Monthly)
- Specialist in Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in The State Library of Victoria, writing 11 records for the department’s research repository
- A distinguished scholar, graduating with a Double Major, Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Art History, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Curatorship.
- Researcher in subject matter pertaining to visual arts and culture in society, especially in issues regarding ‘cultural management’
Rita Lazaukas
- Winner of 5 art awards including the Wodonga Hume Acquisitive Contemporary Award, The Blackfriars Drawing Acquisitive and the Tallangatta Arts festival. She was also a finalist for 12 art prizes, for names like Citigroup Photographic Portrait Prize, Dominique Segan Drawing Prize, Hutchins Works on Paper and the Dobell Drawing Prize
- She has exhibited work at Birds Gallery, Monash University Switchback Gallery, Beechworth, ArtSpace (Wodonga), The Art Gallery of NSW, The Bendigo Art Gallery, Maudespace and the Westpac Gallery (The Victorian Arts’ Centre)
- She is currently the General Manager of the ‘Amazigh Cultural Tours’ program in Morocco, as a custodian of the arts-culture of Morocco.
- She has had 20 years of experience working as a curator for well renowned galleries around the country
- She is a visual artist who focuses on fine arts; her work is inspired by landscapes, cityscapes and architecture.
Bella Capezio
- Teaches at The Photography Studies College and co-runs the Ruffian Gallery (Footscray)
- Designed and ran the Footscray Foto Focus intensive photography workshop
- Organiser of workshops and competitions for the Asia Pacific Photobook Archive
- Her work adheres to cultural influences of Mexico, questioning spiritual practices and traditions.
- She has published 7 photobooks which span her journeys to various countries (Cambodia and Ethiopia)
Claire Monneraye
- Curator of Exhibitions as well as the International and Satellite Projects at the Australian Centre for Photography
- Previously worked at the Centre Pompiduo and Reunion de Musees Nationaux (Paris)
- Recently curated a collaborative exhibition with curators based in Berlin and Budapest, titled ‘Ex & Post – Eastern Europe Under the Lens’
- Graduated in literature, philosophy, history with a Masters in Cultural Heritage Studies
- The themes she likes to work with are representations of culture in society and the female identity
We're sure to have piqued your interest and know that coming along to the Symposium will be an eye opening event! Read more about it here: https://www.psc.edu.au/symposium/ and don't forget to book your spot: http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=148035