Drawing on its most prolific historic archive, the Elliott Collection, juxtaposed with fresh takes from contemporary local image-makers, Museum of Brisbane (MoB) curates a fascinating spectrum of past and present photography in New Light: Photography Now + Then, on display from Saturday 17 August 2024.
The Elliott Collection collates the work of amateur photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870 – 1954) whose black-and-white imagery capturing a bygone era of Brisbane lay dormant for decades until discovered preserved in cedar cigar boxes under a Red Hill residence in 1983. Donated to the City of Brisbane Collection, these photographs are one of the most significant collections of historical images of Brisbane.
New Light: Photography Now + Then will span stills, camera equipment and techniques from 1890 to 2024, highlighting seven Brisbane visual creatives who will reframe Elliott’s singular gaze within their diverse perspectives and experiences.
The new compositions by Marian Drew, Jo-Anne Driessens, Joachim Froese, Tammy Law, Carl Warner, Nina White and Keemon Williams will add scope, texture and depth to the historic black-and-white photography, exploring notions of time, place, fragility and memory.
Exhibition Curator Elena Dias-Jayasinha said New Light: Photography Now + Then offers an exciting opportunity to re-examine one of Museum of Brisbane’s most significant historic photography archives through the lens of local visionaries.
“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,” said Ms Dias-Jayasinha.
“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 archival Elliott Collection and new commissioned works, MoB will display an array of black-and-white photographic submissions sourced from the public during a community callout earlier this year, further shaping the storytelling perspectives.
Museum of Brisbane CEO & Director Zoe Graham hopes locals will embrace the new exhibition for the rare portal into the city’s past while participating in a collective creative journey.
“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,” said Ms Graham.
“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.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the exhibition captures Brisbane’s evolution across 134 years with imagery that helps locals and visitors see a different side of Brisbane.
“New Light: Photography Now + Then provides a collection of snapshots from Brisbane’s past and exciting new works from current creatives – all of which tell the story of our city,” said Cr Schrinner.
“The latest exhibition at Museum of Brisbane captures the many intriguing ways we view ourselves and our city, and is a fantastic free exhibit for all to enjoy. I encourage visitors and residents to plan your trip to City Hall and learn more about our city’s past and present, as we continue to make our lifestyle better.”
New Light: Photography Now + Then
Museum of Brisbane, Level 3, City Hall
Exhibition: Saturday 17 August 2024 – Sunday 13 July 2025
Free entry
For more information, visit: www.museumofbrisbane.com.au for details.
Images: Alfred Elliott, Top end of Enoggera Reservoir, 1893, print from glass-plate negative. City of Brisbane Collection, Museum of Brisbane | Nina White, Family Album, 2023, rag matte photographic print – courtesy the artist