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Ivan Gaal
Video: 1 minute 23 seconds

- I know David, whom I used to work with 40 years ago, when he got his HIV/AIDS. And I kept bumping into him at Christmas parties from the old work. I left long ago and so we drifted, but I just saw his face and I said, "I have to get a shot of that because it's got everything that I'm looking for in a portrait: a soul, the past history, the suffering, you know." I just like that. And it's also topical because although that COVID is still here, but AIDS is also here. So we're forgetting about the fact that people are still getting AIDS. And David was very, you know, cooperative. And just one hot summer day, we took hundreds of shots and different angles. And so I experimented, experimented. And then finally, I just got this idea to put the attachment to the flash and shot him like with the medication. So in every way, I have a lot of respect for the guy. And I'm glad that I made the final.

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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