“Photography saturates every aspect of our culture” – Bill Henson
The above statement by Mr Henson on Monday night’s lecture (07/03/11) could not be more apt to our studies. In an age where the common person has the ability and means to take, and edit, a photograph from the comfort of their computer desk, how are we, students of the discipline, meant to compete? Henson is one of, if not, the, most notable photographers in Australia, who’s work has had national impact, be it representing the nation at the Venice Biennale, or works that have changed the face of Australian Censorship and Classification laws. In the opinion of this writer, Henson wanted the students leave the lecture knowing that when they create a work, that they must make it for themselves and not the audience in mind.
Henson spoke of his love for creating his artworks; a love that must be so deep, that medium wouldn’t, despite his deep roots in analogue photography. This later came to light when he discussed his most recent works, all of which are Inkjet prints. Henson stated, “The more difficult it is… the more natural the editing process is” and that was one factor as to why he’d refused to ‘go digital’ for so long, that… and he had exhausted the global stocks of mural size, colour paper. Then emphasis for this reason was, as Henson stated, “(a) Photograph is an object… it needs to command the space” something that Henson’s photography has achieved consistently. A point that, hopefully everyone present, and certainly this writer, learnt.
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