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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.

Tough & Tender

Previous exhibition
from Friday 15 July until Sunday 16 October 2016

Tough & Tender reveals emotional vulnerability and yearning for connection. Art by a group of American and Australian artists from the 1960s to now explore the complexities of personal relations and individual expression – their work is intimate and raw.

Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Photographs by Warwick Baker, Larry Clark, Rozalind Drummond, Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe and Collier Schorr reflect the formative identity of young adulthood and complexities of masculinity and gender, composed with sensitivity and candour. In ground-breaking performance art documented on video, Chris Burden’s physical trials strip back his own persona and the mythic ethos of manhood. 
 
Specific works have been selected from broader oeuvres to create an atmosphere of revelation of subtle emotion and bodily sensation in portrait-related work. 

18 portraits
view all

Untitled (42nd Street Series), 1979 by Larry Clark
Beno 2016 by Warwick Baker
Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin
Koko & Kiko (42nd Street Series), 1980 by Larry Clark
Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74 by Chris Burden
Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond
Untitled (42nd Street Series), 1979–80 by Larry Clark
Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker
Benny (42nd Street Series), 1979–80 by Larry Clark
1 Untitled (42nd Street Series), 1979 , by Larry Clark. 2 Beno 2016 by Warwick Baker, . 3 Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin, . 4 Koko & Kiko (42nd Street Series), 1980 by Larry Clark. 5 Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74, by Chris Burden. 6 Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond, . 7 Untitled (42nd Street Series), 1979–80, by Larry Clark. 8 Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker, . 9 Benny (42nd Street Series), 1979–80, by Larry Clark.
Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond
Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond
Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond
Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond

Rozalind Drummond

Tough & Tender

The photographs in Tough & tender by Rozalind Drummond evoke individual freedom and personal reflection. 

Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin
Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin
Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin
Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin

Tough & Tender

The photographs by Nan Goldin in Tough and tender are warm images of heartache and hope.

Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker
Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker
Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker
Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker

Warwick Baker

Tough & Tender

The photographs in Tough and tender by Warwick Baker reveal intimate connections and moments of closeness. 

Billy Mann 1963 by Larry Clark
Billy Mann 1963 by Larry Clark
Billy Mann 1963 by Larry Clark
Billy Mann 1963 by Larry Clark

Larry Clark

Tough & Tender

Larry Clark's black-and-white documentary images of young outsiders reveal raw feelings. 

Dominik, First Tour, Backnang 2000 by Collier Schorr
Dominik, First Tour, Backnang 2000 by Collier Schorr
Dominik, First Tour, Backnang 2000 by Collier Schorr
Dominik, First Tour, Backnang 2000 by Collier Schorr

Collier Schorr

Tough & Tender

This is the first time Collier Schorr's photographs, which explore gender and identity, have been shown in Australia.

Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden

Chris Burden

Tough & Tender

In the video in Tough and tender Chris Burden narrates his performance artworks characterised by focused attention to mind over physical body.

Follow curator Chris Chapman on Instagram

Dr. Chris Chapman's Instagram account is inspiration for the exhibition Tough & Tender.

Related people

Dr Christopher Chapman (curator)

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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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