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Atong Atem’s striking photographs reflect identity, family, history and politics. She often uses herself as a canvas, painting her face, and the images she creates are often a riot of colour, playful and almost always joyous.
On Sunday afternoon, in a pop-up event designed for Mother’s Day, Melburnians will have a chance to get a portrait shot by Atem – with their mum.
That said, the 35-year-old mother of two says her definition of mother for the pop-up is deliberately loose.
To her mind, there are plenty of places where people can celebrate their mum in “that traditional flowers-and-chocolates way”.
“I want just one little space in the world where it’s not about that … Not everybody has the same relationship to Mother’s Day or mothers and family in general,” she says.
“My mental image is that it’ll be everything from a mum bringing in their newborn baby and taking a photo with them, to somebody who doesn’t even like their mum … and wants to take a photo that their mum would hate.”
She also welcomes people who’ve lost mothers or lost mother figures, encouraging them to bring in a photo and have “a beautiful portrait taken as they hold a photo, or that person’s favourite dress or hat, or something symbolic and personal”.
People are invited to sit for a 10-minute portrait session and can take a signed print home for $50. The main response thus far, she says, has been from people who aren’t planning to have a literal photograph taken with their mother.
Initially, Atem assumed it would just be her immediate circle of people interested but already there’s been a huge response.
Entertainment will be provided by her eight-year-old nephew, who is a musician. Visitors are encouraged to BYO garments or hats that might need freshening up, as there will be an embroidery service on site; a number of volunteers will be on hand to help.
Raised on the Central Coast in New South Wales, Atem is now based in Melbourne. After escaping the second civil war in her parents’ homeland of South Sudan, the family spent time in Kakuma refugee camp in north-west Kenya before arriving in Australia when she was six years old.
Gallerist Andy Dinan of MARS Gallery recalls taking Atem’s work to Sydney Contemporary in 2019 and selling just one work; she cried on the plane on the way home. “Nine years on I’m laughing at how upset I was,” Dinan says.
Atem’s work has since been shown around the world, including at London’s Tate Modern, and is currently on display in Shanghai and Amsterdam.
“[Atem’s work] is an examination of her displacement and also you can see her love of painting,” Dinan says. “She actually majored in painting and then went into photography, but you can see in her use of colour, how much she loves it.
“She loves to photograph and is always working. She’s a delight to work with and her sense of community is second to none.”
Dinan will take Atem’s new work to Sydney Contemporary in September and MARS will host a show in November.
In October, the National Gallery of Victoria will host a major survey show called Passage: The Art of Atong Atem. A world premiere, the exhibition will survey the past decade of her career, featuring more than 65 works.
NGV director Tony Ellwood describes Atem as one of the most exciting artists of her generation, “redefining what it means to be Australian in contemporary life and culture”.
“Her work aligns with the broader traditions of African studio photography, feminist aesthetics and diasporic storytelling. Yet, she has crafted a style and perspective that are uniquely her own, earning her recognition worldwide.”
Atong Atem’s pop-up studio is at 99 Harding St, Coburg, from 1pm-5pm on Sunday, May 10.
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