What's on

‘THE GREAT IDEA’ EXHIBITION EVENTS

Exhibition dates: 1 – 25 May 2020
Macquarie University Art Gallery
The Chancellery, Building E11A, 19 Eastern Rd, Macquarie University

OFFICIAL OPENING

Monday 4 May commencing @ 6.30pm at the Macquarie University Art Gallery.
Author Christos Tsiolkas will speak and formally open the exhibition.
The exhibition is a feature exhibition in both the ‘Head On Photo Festival’ and the ‘2020 Greek Festival of Sydney’.
By invitation, though interested individuals and groups can attend by contacting the University Art Gallery: 9850 7437; OR by sending an email to: leonard.janiszewski@mq.edu.au

About the exhibition: ‘The Great Idea’
The power of an idea is manifest within its outcome.
The greater the idea, the more powerful its effect.

Nine contemporary Australian photographers of Hellenic descent provide sweeping, often discordant, diverse visions that resonate with a conglomerate strength of multiple looking – multiple, idiosyncratic perceptions. Their particular, individual, thematic ways of seeing, both corral and liberate those aspects of their worlds that are important to them. Yet universal to all, is the need to know and understand both themselves and their context of looking. And herein lies the group’s ‘great idea’, the freedom to see, interpret, converse, argue and visually articulate self and place, unbound by any irredentist discourse of nationalism – either Greek or Australian.

The photographers:
Effy Alexakis, Emmanuel Angelicas, Yannis Dramitinos, Phillip George, Arthur Georgeson, Elizabeth Gertsakis, Polixeni Papapetrou, Tom Psomotragos, and Vasili Vasileiadis.

The Curator:
Leonard Janiszewski

Opening Speaker Bio:
Christos Tsiolkas is the author of six novels, including Loaded, which was made into the feature film Head-On. His fourth novel, the international bestseller The Slap, was shortlisted for the 2009 Miles Franklin Literary Award, won Overall Best Book in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2009, was shortlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize and won the Australian Literary Society Gold, as well as the 2009 Australian Booksellers Association and Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year. The Slap, and his fifth book Barracuda, were adapted into celebrated television series. His most recent book, Damascus, has attracted critical acclaim. Tsiolkas is also a playwright, essayist and screenwriter.

‘THE TRANSNATIONAL IMAGE’ FORUM

Tuesday 5 May, 1pm – 3pm @ the Macquarie University Art Gallery.
A number of the exhibition photographers will be participating in the forum, together with author Christos Tsiolkas.
Afternoon tea/coffee will be provided.
Free – no costs involved for attendance.
Bookings can be made through the University Art Gallery: 9850 7437; OR by sending an email to: leonard.janiszewski@mq.edu.au

About the forum:
Bringing together contemporary photographers, curators, museologists, writers and academics, this forum will initially discuss ‘The Great Idea’ exhibition within the context of the multiple ‘transnational influences’ acting upon the photographers. The work of these photographers extends well beyond simplified and out-dated labels of ethnicity or citizenship. Moreover, discussion will then open up to consider other artists and exhibitions that reflect such contexts and their significance to both artistic and audience conception, perception and understanding.

‘THE NARRATIVE PORTRAIT’ WORKSHOP

Friday 8 May, 1pm – 3pm @ the Macquarie University Art Gallery.
Talk and workshop conducted by photographers Effy Alexakis and Yannis Dramitinos. Participants limited to 12. A personal camera is required.
Afternoon tea/coffee will be provided.
Free – no cost involved for attendance.
Bookings can be made through the University Art Gallery: 9850 7437; OR by sending an email to: leonard.janiszewski@mq.edu.au

About the workshop:
Portrait photographers Effy Alexakis and Yannis Dramitinos will discuss their work and demonstrate how, by capturing aspects of an individual’s environmental context and teasing out the personality of sitters, a conscious narrative revealing insight into the subject/s can ensue. The workshop will attempt to equip participants with the necessary knowledge required – what to look for, and how to go about it.

‘AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY’ WORKSHOP

Wednesday 13 May, 9.00am – 10.00am @ Sydney Airport Helipad. 11.30am de-briefing at a location participants will be advised of. Photography will be undertaken from an open-door helicopter with strict safety regulations in place. Workshop conducted by photographer Phillip George. Participants limited to 3. Cost $800.00
Note: Tuesday 12 May, 2.30pm – 3.30pm, Pre-briefing – participants will be advised of the location. Enquiries can be made directly to the photographer via the following email: philg@netspace.net.au

About the workshop:
Phillip George’s aerial photography has captured both coastal Australia and its inland heart – his work is observational, metraphorical, and empowering in its scale. This is a unique opportunity to discover the techniques of such specialised photography – to go beyond and above the traditional horizon line.

‘PHOTOGRAPHING THE EASTERN ARRERNTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY’ TALK

Thursday 14 May, 1pm – 3pm @ the Macquarie University Art Gallery.
Talk by photographer Tom Psomotragos.
Afternoon tea/coffee will be provided.
Free – no cost involved for attendance.
Bookings can be made through the University Art Gallery: 9850 7437; OR by sending an email to: leonard.janiszewski@mq.edu.au

About the talk:
Greek-born photographer Tom Psomotragos discusses his experiences photographing the Arrernte Indigenous community.
“Photography has always been a very personal form of expression that has given me the means to explore my identity and its place in society with its complex interplay between the personal and the collective.  I will be discussing how this played out in my photography of the Eastern Arrernte community.”

‘THE PHOTOGRAPHIC AESTHETICS OF PICTURING THE NAKED FEMALE FORM WITH A HELLENIC TWIST’ WORKSHOP

Sunday 17 May, 9am – 3pm @ Atlas Community & Cultural Centre, 96 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville. Workshop conducted by photographer Emmanuel Angelicas. Participants limited to 6. Potential participants are requested to submit 12 examples of their previous work (female nudes), accompanied by an expression of interest, a short biography and a CV.
Free – no cost involved for those selected.
Enquiries and submissions can be made directly to the photographer via the following email: AMCP@bigpond.com

About the workshop:
This workshop presents a rare glimpse into how master photographer Emmanuel Angelicas prepares, executes and evaluates the required outcomes in a relaxed setting. Students will be made aware of the basic protocols and principles needed when working with female nude models. They will have the opportunity to photograph a female nude model under the guidance of Angelicas, inspired by the classical, ancient Greek Hellenistic period. Selected students will be given a brief well before the workshop to research and prepare themselves for the day.

‘THE GREAT IDEA’ EXHIBITION FLOOR TALK

Wednesday 20 May, 1pm – 2pm @ the Macquarie University Art Gallery
Floor talk by exhibition curator Leonard Janiszewski and a number of the participating photographers.
Afternoon tea/coffee will be provided.
Free – no cost involved for attendance.
Bookings can be made through the University Art Gallery: 9850 7437; OR by sending an email to: leonard.janiszewski@mq.edu.au

About the floor talk:
Led by curator Leonard Janiszewski and a number of the participating photographers, the exhibition’s conceptualisation, inclusive of its thematic and pragmatic challenges, will be discussed, as will the seminal role of the AMCP (the Australian Museum of Contemporary Photography). Detailed insights into the work of each photographer on display will be provided as well as opportunities to personally engage in conversation with the available photographers themselves.

FIND OUT MORE

Macquarie University Art Gallery 
The Chancellery, 19 Eastern Rd
Macquarie University, NSW 2109 Australia
T: 02  9850 7437
artgallery.mq.edu.au
Opening hours: Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm