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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.

The morticians, 2014

by Rohan Thomson

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015 Finalist

The morticians, 2014

Mortuary workers Michelle Keevers and Josh Wallace prepare the deceased for their funerals. Together they have seen the bodies of babies and children taken well before their time as well as those whose bodies bear the marks of a long life. They have spent hours tending to the remains of people who have died in their sleep and even more on those who have been through trauma. They believe in the importance of their work in giving final dignity to a family’s loved one, and appreciate the role they can play in the ritual of farewelling the dead.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015
(More information, View all 44 photos)

Christine (self portrait)
Tom and Pepper
Lyndon
Joey

Other NPPP photos from Rohan Thomson
(More information)

Matjangka Norris, 2022 Rohan Thomson
2023 Finalist

Related information

Portrait of Ali, 2014 by Hoda Afshar
Portrait of Ali, 2014 by Hoda Afshar
Portrait of Ali, 2014 by Hoda Afshar
Portrait of Ali, 2014 by Hoda Afshar

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015

Previous exhibition, 2015

The National Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
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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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