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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.

blood/memory: Brenda & Christopher I (Gurindji/Malngin/Mudburra; Mara/Ngarrindjeri/Ritharrngu; Anglo-Australian/Chinese/German/Irish/Scottish) 2021, 2022

Brenda L Croft, Prue Hazelgrove (Photographic Assistant)

original wet plate collodion process tin-type, digital scan to Ultrachrome pigment on 100% cotton rag paper (image: 120.0cm x 96.0cm. sheet: 140.0cm x 111.8cm. frame: 138.6cm x 112.5cm depth 4.5cm)
blood/memory: Brenda & Christopher I (Gurindji/Malngin/Mudburra; Mara/Ngarrindjeri/Ritharrngu; Anglo-Australian/Chinese/German/Irish/Scottish) 2021, 2022

blood/memory: Christopher is my son/great-nephew/grandson, I am Christopher's mother/great-aunt/grandmother. His great-grandmother is my father's older sister. They shared the same non-Indigenous father, different First Nations mothers, but still looked like peas in a pod. Our combined bloodlines include Gurindji/Malngin/Mudburra peoples and Anglo-Australian/Chinese/German/Irish for me, Mara/Ngarrindjeri/Ritharrngu and Anglo-Australian/Irish for Christopher. My grandfather/Christopher's great-great-grandfather's journey into the Northern Territory over a century ago is reflected in this portrait. It is a gift to share Christopher's life and I learn from him every day – blood/memory. Marntaj.

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Michael Riley's portraits

Portrait story

Linda Burney, Brenda Croft and Darrell Sibosado share memories of Michael Riley and his photographic practice.
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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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