Skip to main content
Menu

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.

The Dark Current, 2023

Angela Tiatia

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist

pigment photographic print on paper (frame: 83.5cm x 123.5cm depth 6.0cm)

Angela Tiatia
born Aotearoa/New Zealand 1973, Australia from 2012

The Dark Current 2023
pigment photographic print on paper

‘This work is an homage to my mother, Lusi Tiatia, who passed away in early 2023. It is a testament to the sacrifices and struggles that her generation endured when they migrated to the cities of Australia and Aotearoa from the villages of the Pacific Islands in the 1960s. I had a very clear idea of the presence of the person I was looking for to embody my mother in this image. After months of searching with no luck, finally a friend messaged me Cassaerea’s Instagram profile. She was perfect: strong, calm, resolute, captivating.’

Based on Gadigal Land in Sydney, artist Angela Tiatia explores contemporary culture, drawing attention to relationships between representation, gender, neo-colonialism, the commodification of body, history and place.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024

Voting closes Sunday 29 September 2024.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency