The Luminaries: STAGES: Photography through a pandemic

www.mga.org.au 

Responding to the unprecedented social, environmental and economic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on artists and society at large, MGA has commissioned five artist projects. The STAGES commission enables MGA to provide financial support directly to practicing artists at a time of great need for the arts sector in Australia. MGA invited 30 recognised photography directors, curators, writers, educators and producers to each nominate an artist working with photography to be shortlisted for the STAGES commission. Each nominated artist was invited to submit a project proposal. From this shortlist, five projects were selected by MGA’s curatorial team. STAGES: photography through the pandemic will see Jane Burton, Cherine Fahd, Phuong Ngo, Van Sowerine + Isobel Knowles, and James Tylor respond creatively to the unprecedented social, environmental and economic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The resulting bodies of work will feature in online and gallery-based exhibition outcomes as part of MGA’s Luminaries exhibition series in 2021. A selection of the commissioned works will also join the MGA Collection to contribute to the cultural record of this time. The exhibition forms part of the Luminaries series of exhibitions, which you kindly supported last year, that celebrates and profiles exceptional, established and well-respected Australian photographers, and encourages a deep engagement with their work by new audiences. The exhibition builds and develops MGA’s Collection with unique works that are relevant for MGA and reflects and responds to our local community.