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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.

Dreams, 2006

by Rahima Hayes

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2007 Finalist

Dreams, 2006

In Beijing as an artist-in-residence with Australia China Council, I became friends with Jin Shuai who is 17. She has been studying dance since she was 10 and recently graduated from the Beijing International Art School. Through her own dedication and discipline she has taught herself English and is now reasonably fluent. The photo was taken in her bedroom at her house in the south of Beijing, where she lives with her mother and stepfather during her school holidays. It was taken during Chinese New Year, which is why Jin Shuai has laboriously decorated her wall with balloons. I wanted to take the portrait in her room, as this is largely her only personal space. As we were talking she picked up the magazine with the image of an Anglo woman. The juxtaposition epitomises Jin Shuai's own situation, as she dreams of the day she may be able to study abroad.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2007
(More information, View all 75 photos)

Caroline Barton
Bishop Spong
The Hunting Lodge (The Dogs Breakfast Group)
Self-portrait

Related information

Lindy Lee - Birth and Death, 2006 by Robert Scott-Mitchell
Lindy Lee - Birth and Death, 2006 by Robert Scott-Mitchell
Lindy Lee - Birth and Death, 2006 by Robert Scott-Mitchell
Lindy Lee - Birth and Death, 2006 by Robert Scott-Mitchell

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2007

Previous exhibition, 2007

Photography is the most pervasive and popular medium for portraiture and makes a natural fit with the Gallery, being a natural extension of the Gallery's longstanding commitment to photography as a contemporary portrait medium.
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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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