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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 both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Serenity, 2021

Forough Yavari

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023 Finalist

digital photograph on paper (frame: 102.1cm x 73.1cm depth 6.0cm)
Serenity, 2021

This portrait from the Salvation series celebrates the beauty and strength of black women. Drawing inspiration from the poetry of Langston Hughes, the piece is imbued with the themes of dance and the blues, which have long been intertwined with the experiences of black women. I crafted the background and clothing of the figure using painted canvas, gold leaf and paper, symbolising the idea of freedom and movement. The golden circle represents the power and resilience of the woman. This homage to the transformative power of the human spirit celebrates the many ways in which black women have triumphed over adversity.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023
(More information, View all 47 photos)

Nikki – Yurrkan Mantangka Ngargnyi – coll 1 (Nikki – young woman on Country)
Aunty Helen
Madison
Dave

Related information

Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk
Ruby (left view), 2022 Shea Kirk

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023

Previous exhibition, 2023

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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