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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Untag Me!, 2013

by Nara Peek Silva

Winner, Macquarie Digital Portraiture Award 2013
Four channel HD video

Untag Me!, 2013 by Nara Peek Silva
Video: 17 minutes

Over the past few years I have become not only camera shy but also rebellious against excessive photo taking. The once sacred ritual of capturing a moment rather than just an image has been degraded in the age of social networking and surveillance. This experimental film is an exploration and more importantly a celebration of the parts of our identity we’d rather keep concealed. The parts we consider undesirable, unlikable or simply ugly. Untag me! is a series of portraits in which beautiful individuals transform from composed and attractive to ugly and disfigured by pulling as many hideous (and hilarious) faces as they can. Untag me! explores self-censorship, insecurity, inhibition and vanity and ultimately the freedom of the individual. It is a rebellion against the glorification of the contrived image and exemplifies the true beauty that lies within authenticity, vulnerability and liberation.

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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