Australia’s photography festival will feature 20 artists

The renowned photography festival Les Rencontres d’Arles will spotlight Australian artists this July in France. This celebration will showcase the work of 20 First Nations and non-Indigenous photographers, highlighting their deep connections to the land. On Country: Photography from Australia will feature over 200 works, exploring themes of identity, culture, and ancestral ties to the land. Notable artists include both established figures like Ricky Maynard and emerging talents like Atong Atem. This exhibition is curated by PHOTO Australia’s Pippa Milne and Brendan McCleary. Festival director Christoph Wiesner called this a "monumental moment" for Australian photography. The event is expected to attract around 160,000 visitors from around the world, introducing them to contemporary Australian art. Elias Redstone, founder of PHOTO Australia, noted that this exhibition will have lasting implications in promoting Australian artists abroad. He emphasized the need for greater opportunities for Australians in the global photography scene. The exhibition will explore complex relationships Indigenous peoples have with the land, working against colonial interpretations of photography. It aims to promote self-determination and collaboration. One highlight will be the Warakurna Superheroes series by Tony Albert, showcasing children from a remote Indigenous community in Western Australia. The images blend superhero imagery with the local landscape, celebrating identity and joy. Other featured works include portraits honoring cultural rituals by Maree Clarke and Brenda L Croft's tribute to First Nations women. Each artist seeks to communicate unique perspectives on identity, culture, and connection to land. Photographers like Adam Ferguson and Liss Fenwick bring their own experiences into their work, presenting contemporary views on life in Australia. Overall, the exhibition aims to connect diverse Australian stories with a global audience, fostering a deeper understanding of Australia’s rich cultural landscape.