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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.

She Fell Asleep During the Movie, 2007

Grant Hawkes

pigment photographic print (sheet: 32.4cm x 48cm)
She Fell Asleep During the Movie, 2007

‘The sitter in my portrait is Tomiko Tateno. She fell asleep during a documentary we were watching on Robert Capa. Our tea, cigarettes and other things are scattered about the floor. This image explores the significance of objects and their assumed symbolism in portraiture. At the time I was interested in using photographic reportage to capture quiet moments rather than the significant occasions which would normally define that kind of photography. Looking back on this photograph after 20 years, I’m drawn to the use of dynamic framing and dramatic pose to describe a state of rest.’

Based on Gadigal Land/Sydney, Grant Hawkes worked across various forms of photography for 20 years. His final series, made in 2016, was titled Unexceptional Wild Flowers or I Don’t Want to Photograph People Anymore.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2007 Finalist

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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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