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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 great echo chamber, 2017

by Dianne Jones

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2018 Finalist

The great echo chamber, 2017

The great echo chamberis my response as an Aboriginal woman to political debates in a house of parliament. The drama of ceremony and speeches contrasts with the ordinary, mundane embodiment of power. This ‘heart of democracy’ is idealised as representative, yet many of the faces are similar. Decisions are made for Aboriginal peoples. Alienated in this room of white governance, I explore how I inhabit the centre, sitting in the seats and performing the bodily language of members of parliament: bored, excited, inspired, angry, jaded, chewing gum and asleep.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2018
(More information, View all 43 photos)

'New home new life' Arwin
Distracted
Breakfast with bats
The arrival

Related information

Charlie, 2017 by Lee Grant
Charlie, 2017 by Lee Grant
Charlie, 2017 by Lee Grant
Charlie, 2017 by Lee Grant

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2018

Previous exhibition, 2018

The 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.
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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