Anne Noble : John Ogdenl : Margaret Dawson

Polixeni Papapetrou and visitor

Australian Consulate - New York

Read article as published in The Australian newspaper

"Photography from Australia and New Zealand :
Special Auction and Exhibition Curated by Alison Holland"

2002-06-26 until 2002-07-19
Sothebys.com
New York , NY , USA

Sothebys.com brings together for the first time an impressive collection of 200 contemporary photographs from Australia and New Zealand . The online auction and New York exhibition, co-hosted by the Australian Consulate General and the New Zealand Consulate General, commences with a two-week preview on June 26, 2002 and the auction runs from July 9 to July 19, 2002 . This collection is an outstanding statement of a unique creative spirit originating from countries where the people focus on their identity, while identifying with the land and its inhabitants.

The photography in this collection is extremely diverse: from pierced and painted bodies to witnessing the inner sanctum of the infamous New Zealand 'Black Power' gang. Urban landscapes of international observations combine with the views of Sydney post-Olympic Games, and the empty spaces when the homeless population were 'relocated'. Feminine erotic self-portraits mix with intimate observations from a granddaughter who photographed her nude 94 year old grandmother.

Portraits of outback heroes who inhabit some of the harshest inhospitable land on the planet. Australian Aboriginal portraits from early settlement to the modern day. (Doc Ross's) Devoted views of New Zealand 's Paua Shell and natural beach sculptures, plus the animals of the Australian outback as they lay dead as roadkill, only passionately honored and remembered. Microscopic views of native flowers shown alongside the emotionally grand and overpowering beauty of the rich landscape.

Curator Alison Holland has conceived a significant collection of prints from fourty-one photographers whose status ranges from the internationally acclaimed, to the most prominent emerging photographic artists. The auction and exhibition will capitalize on the current stream of focus given to both countries' artistic talents.

In 2000 the world witnessed some of Australia 's outstanding artistic talents and imagination as it paraded at the Sydney Olympic Games closing ceremony. The burgeoning film industries recent success with Australia 's 'Moulin Rouge' and New Zealand 's 'The Lord of the Rings', further illustrate the unique and exciting visions coming from these two countries.

Sothebys.com responded to this enthusiasm by inviting Holland , an Australian fine art photography curator, to create the auction and exhibition. In addition to introducing buyers and collectors to exciting works, Sothebys.com is also opening up the field to tap into the enormous photographic talent found in Australia and New Zealand .

As both countries enjoy a rapidly growing and long established photographic art marketplace, this event indicates the universality of Sothebys online auctions and its ability to connect geographical boundaries.

After moving to the States two years ago, Holland curated 28 exhibitions and events in the US and is now based in Berlin and New York . She began curating exhibitions 10 years ago, and in that time either directed or owned three galleries in Sydney . In April 2002 Holland lectured at the KölnPhoto International Fair in Cologne Germany , and was recently published in 'Black & White Magazine for Collectors of Fine Photography' USA with an 8-page feature on Australian photography.