Ballarat International Foto Biennale

Now in its 16^th year, the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is one of the mainstays of the art calendar. It is a place where the past, present and future converge. Through the collection of stunning, rare and evocative photography, we, the audience, reflect on and ponder our ferocious world, and the moment of time we inhabit.

Extended until 9 January 2022, the Biennale showcases work from Australian and international artists in the curated Core Program, while the Open Program is dedicated to emerging artists. The jewel of this year’s event is the Linda McCartney: Retrospective. The spectacular exhibition features more than 200 photographs, including iconic images of the 60s hip music scene, intimate moments of the McCartney family and never-seen-before pics from McCartney’s time in Australia between 1975 and 1993. Her moving portraits enable you to gaze into the world of rock ‘n’ roll from a very intimate lens. (Pun intended, sorry not sorry.)

Among the highlights in the Core Program is the Australian-exclusive Steven Arnold exhibition, Notes from a Queer Mystic. An icon, a legend, a cultural phenomenon, Steven Arnold was a pioneering artist and protégé of Salvador Dali. His portraits illustrate a world of glam, camp, celebrity and exaggeration.

Raining Embers recollects some of the darkest days in Australia – the 2020 bushfires. Alethia Casey, Gideon Mendel and Ruth Maddison capture the despair and devastation of communities and the people within them, alongside the wreckage that was their world now ravaged by a firestorm. Each intimate portrait invites the viewer to ponder an alternative future that addresses the climate crisis and our relationship with nature.

The favourite for me was Stefan Chow and Huiyi Lin’s The Poverty Line. The perfect union of art, geopolitics and sociology, Chow and Lin use food to examine the daily choices faced by those living on the poverty line in 36 countries across the world. For some countries, pineapple is the food du jour; for Australia, it’s avocados, lettuce and lollies. Each series of food images are imposed atop local newspapers from the same day the food was bought. Part of the fun is to examine the newspapers to distil differences in reporting style per country, the types of news that are reported and key cultural events that you may recognise.

Housed at the Ballarat Town Hall are the winners of the Martin Kantor Portrait Prize and the Fineman New Photography Award. Martin Kantor was a photographer and philanthropist known for his portraits of famous musicians and artists like Iggy Pop and Howard Arkley. The award recognises photographic artwork of a significant Australian. This year, Mia Mala McDonald was awarded first prize of $15,000 for their portrait of AFLW footballer Darcy Vescio. In the photo, Vescio is surrounded by a sea of gold, glitter and trophies, looking accomplished and ready for the next challenge. The People’s Choice Award was given to John Gollings for his self-portrait taken during the depths of Melbourne’s 2020 lockdown.

The Outdoor Programs are just as fascinating. Don’t look past Submerged Portraits, located just behind the Art Gallery of Ballarat; Time and Place, a collection of images that profile Melbourne and Sydney scenes between 1970–1998; and BODY COPY, a series of self-portraits responding to texts on gay and queer hook-up platforms.

With all the art and walking to each exhibition, there’s time for a pit stop. To refuel and eat something scrumptious, don’t miss out on The Hydrant Food Hall. Boasting a seasonal menu, crunchy pastries and decent coffee, make a reservation before you set off from Melbourne to avoid disappointment.

With the festival now in its final weeks, there’s never been a better time to take a road trip or a luxurious weekender to dive into Ballarat’s eclectic world of culture, food and photography.

Ballart International Foto Biennale 
Till Sunday 9 January 2022
ballaratfoto.org