The Auckland Festival of Photography 2016 features the 6th Annual Commission. Each year, an Auckland-based photographer is commissioned to create a new body of work for exhibition during the Festival. The commission provides an opportunity to support and promote an Auckland photographer as well as create a cultural and artistic asset for present and future Auckland audiences to enjoy. This year’s commissioned artist is Russ Flatt.
Kia whakatomuri te haere whakamua.
I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.
Russ Flatt’s carefully staged photographs utilise different genres, modes and points of view in order to recover and reconstruct memories and past events.
His work addresses notions of identity by looking towards a re-imagined past in order to recognise the present.
Russ Flatt graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in 2013 from Auckland University’s Elam School of Fine Arts. His work is held in collections including Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, the James Wallace Arts Trust, Auckland Council and the University of Auckland.
Other shortlisted artists this year were Solomon Mortimer and Helen Clegg.
The selection panel included Julia Durkin, Festival Director; Associate Professor Linda Tyler, Director, Gus Fisher Gallery and Alasdair Foster, international art consultant and Asia-Pacific Photoforum Ambassador.
Previous Annual Commission Artists -
2011 - Roberta Thornley
2012 - James K Lowe
2013 - Jennifer Mason
2014 - Tanu Gago
2015 - PJ Paterson