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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.

Philomela, 2024

Dida Sundet

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 Finalist

pigment photographic print on paper (image: 134.5cm x 205.0cm. sheet: 135.5cm x 203.3cm. frame: 142.5cm x 210.5cm depth 3.5cm)
Philomela, 2024

‘This image of Philomela is from Lest We Forget, a series of large photographic light paintings that recreate scenes from Greco-Roman mythology that depict rape. The work focuses on re-codifying mythological women’s experiences of rape to centre the victim-survivor. Through feminist intervention the work investigates the origins of the stories, alters perspective and challenges established gendered tropes.’

Dida Sundet is an interdisciplinary artist from Norway, based in Boorloo/Perth, who works with the photographic technique that she terms light painting, using long exposures to ‘paint’ with light. Her practice focuses on the connections between ancient mythology, traditional gender stereotypes and current sociopolitical debates around men’s violence towards women.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.

Voting closes Sunday 28 September 2025.

Submit vote

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
(More information, View all 48 photos)

The Paddington Boarding House
Aida Azin
Magick Maali
You cannot leave it behind, for it will follow you

Related information

Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

Current exhibition

from Saturday 16 August

The NPPP is an annual prize for Australian photographers. The year’s most outstanding photographic portrait is awarded a $30,000 cash prize and photographic equipment valued at $20,000 courtesy of our Imaging Partner, Canon Australia.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
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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