Visual Arts Centre

Front Gallery

beyond frame: philippine photomedia

Curated by Gina Fairley.

Opening 2 – 4pm Saturday 20 June
Exhibition continues to 21 July, 2009
You are also invited to a public lecture and floortalk by Gina Fairley: Tuesday 21 July, 4pm

"Dots Front Misfire (Cut Room)" 2008 Gina Osterloh.
Courtesy the artist and Silverlens Gallery.

La Trobe Visual Arts Centre presents beyond frame: philippine photomedia, an exhibition featuring work by Philippine artists probing the edges of contemporary photography, curated by Gina Fairley.

Caught between the first world’s ever-increasing sophistication of imaging technologies and a third world culture of tech-piracy and make-do aesthetics, the Philippines offers a dynamic entry point to discussion on contemporary photomedia from a regional perspective. How has this medium evolved and does it have a specific character within the dynamic rise of photography today with digital technology?

Moving beyond the ‘frame’ as a filter, these artists push our understanding of photography to new mediums that expose historic anchors, explore traditional genres with local nuances – such as portraiture, the still life and landscape – and broadens our understanding of a place ‘now’ – Manila.

Including works by the award-winning artists Poklong Anading, Lena Cobangbang, Gina Osterloh and MM Yu their work will be shown alongside emerging talents such as Romina A. Diaz, Ringo Bunoan, Christina Dy, Rachel Rillo, Steve Tirona and pioneering Philippine photographer Mario Co.

This exhibition was premiered at the UTS Gallery Sydney in September 2008 and will return to the Ateneo Art Gallery in Manila following its showing in Bendigo. This is a rare opportunity to observe a vital and emerging photography scene in the Philippines and continues the partnership of exchange between the La Trobe University and the Ateneo de Manila University.

Beyond frame acknowledges the support of lending institutions Silverlens Foundation and The Institute d’art Contemporain [IAC] France; and partner venues UTS Gallery Sydney, Ateneo Art Gallery Manila and SLOT Redfern.

Download exhibition catalogue 1.59MB pdf.