Australian Life returns to Sydney

Australian Life 2016 Emma J Hawkins and Unicorn photo by Aaron BradbrookFrom the epic to the intimate, from the harsh to the fragile, Australia is a country capable of holding so many experiences. An outdoor gallery looking beyond the iconic images of our country, Australian Life returns to Hyde Park from 15 September as part of Art & About Sydney.

Now in its 15th year, hundreds of photographers from across the country put their creativity in the frame for one of Australia’s most prestigious photography competitions. Twenty-two finalists have been selected for the Australian Life competition by judging trio Louise Whelan, Liane Rossler and Daniel Mudie Cunningham. Images by well-known and upcoming photographers portray many facets of life in Australia from diverse cultures to suburbia and the beach.

The 2016 Australian Life finalists are: Marian Abboud, John Appleyard, Kris Baum, Rae Begley, Deb Bonney, Aaron Bradbrook, Simone Cheung, Cameron Cope, Anna Maria Antoinette D’Addario, Ian English, Amy Jean Harding, Taweechai Iam-urairat, Kent Johnson, Jon Lewis, Georgie Mattingley, Nikki McLennan, Darren Saul, Steven Sherwin, Frank Trimarchi, Ess Vaun, Rebecca Webb and Kerry Wilson.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore said the Australian Life competition provides an insight into the lives of people from across the nation. “Since the competition started 15 years ago, we’ve had thousands and thousands of submissions, each depicting the unique characteristics of the Australian way of life,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The Australian Life exhibition is a much-loved annual exhibition that brings together friends, families, the community and visitors to delight in images that celebrate our diverse culture and landscapes.”

The Australian Life finalists will be exhibited in a large-scale exhibition along the St James walkway of Hyde Park from 15 September to 9 October 2016. For more information, visit: www.artandabout.com.au for details.

Image: Emma J Hawkins and Unicorn – photo by Aaron Bradbrook