PROOF - Portraits from the Movement

Exhibition of 70 B&W Portraits and 50 colour photographs from Juno Gemes'

archive In Our Time: Photographs from the Movement 1969 - 2002, produced to support Aboriginal Struggle for Justice in Australia.

Vision

"Right up to the 1970's there were very few photographic images produced which represented the realities of Aboriginal life. The living culture of Aboriginal Australia was ignored and kept invisible by the powers within dominant white culture. The initial impulse and intention of this photographic practice was to make visible the reality of the people from within a true cultural context. The work was produced in conjunction with the communities and individuals represented, and is a working participation in the struggle for Justice." (Gemes, exhibition catalogue, 1982)

We can now revisit this work with a new and expanded perspective. However it's intention is still to educate and inform all sectors of the Australian community: the intention of this work has always been to create deeper

understandings between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples. The exhibition is also as ever for Aboriginal People for their pride in their own

history, and for the younger generations. The archive over time has also become a historic document of major political and cultural achievements. This exhibition portrays significant events and participants in the Movement and the relationships the photographer has enjoyed with Aboriginal People during this time.

It also brings back into focus the decicated activism of the last two generations in The Struggle for Justice for Indigenous Australians. The exhibition presents irrefutable Proof of this recent History and thus questions and addresses the question of what kind of activism is possible in these conservative and divisive times?

Realisation

Exhibitions Venues and Partners:

National Portrait Gallery

Commonwealth Place

Canberra

11th July -11th September 2003

Macquarie University Gallery

Macquarie University

March - May 2004

A Visions Australia tour is proposed to take the exhibition to Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin and Mackay and Brisbane.

People involved

Juno Gemes

Contact Info for this Project