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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.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Treading Water, 2017

by Josh Owen

Digital Portraiture Award 2017
 

Finalist, Digital Portraiture Award 2017
Single channel digital video

Treading Water, 2017 by Josh Owen
Video: 5 minutes

Treading Water tracks a young woman as she approaches from the sea. We watch as she slowly bobs amongst the waves, beginning as a distant, foreign figure before becoming familiar as she struggles to stay afloat. The young woman is my friend Paung, whose parents immigrated to Australia from Burma as refugees a year before she was born. Treading Water is one face, a representation of the thousands who risk their own and their families’ lives to create a better future on Australian shores.

Digital Portraiture Award 2017
Blek Bala MJ, 2017
by Timothy Hillier
Eileen, 2017
by Sue Healey
I’m Here, 2017
by Samantha Sommariva
22/f/aus, 2017
by Sabella D'Souza
Boxer, Blake Travers, 2017
by Patrick Bell
Mämburrkmamburrk, the grouping of the clouds, 2017
by Mundatjŋu Munuŋgurr
Treading Water, 2017
by Josh Owen
Maykarran, 2017
by Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu
Selfie Factory, 2017
by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz

Related information

Selfie Factory, 2017 by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz, video: 3 minutes
Selfie Factory, 2017 by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz, video: 3 minutes
Selfie Factory, 2017 by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz, video: 3 minutes
Selfie Factory, 2017 by Ralph Kenke and Elmar Trefz, video: 3 minutes

Digital Portraiture Award 2017

Previous exhibition, 2017

An annual event to extend traditional notions of portraiture and foster emerging artists with an interest in new technology.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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