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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.

Negotiating a family portrait-a study of history, myth and identity Family, 2015

by Marzena Wasikowska

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 Finalist

Negotiating a family portrait-a study of history, myth and identity Family, 2015

This family portrait is a call to account; everyone has brought their year’s story to the table. My mum, at 80, is studying computing; this year she ventured into the computer design program, ‘AutoCad’. Kai is graduating from Sydney College of the Arts, and Honey has one more year there. Danny has curated and exhibited. Oskar will start school. Jed staged architectural installations with ‘CaveUrban’. Adam is writing. Mia is between projects. Jess is choreographing. Olympia breastfeeds with gusto, and John orchestrated multiple Walking the Solar System performances.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016
(More information, View all 49 photos)

Rowan Thomas
Self-portrait with flowers (presumed native)
Marlon Williams
Boys & their cars

Other NPPP photos from Marzena Wasikowska
(More information)

A Covid kind of day, 2020 Marzena Wasikowska
2021 Finalist
Chaos 1 from series Negotiating the family portrait, 2017 by Marzena Wasikowska
2018 Finalist
Negotiating a family portrait – a study of history, myth and identity, 2014 by Marzena Wasikowska
2015 Finalist
Jess, Danny and Mia, 2010 by Marzena Wasikowska
2011 Finalist

Related information

Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim
Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim
Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim
Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson at Hamelin Pool, 2013 by Matt Nettheim

Hump days

Magazine article by Jessica Bolton, 2017

Jessica Bolton navigates the parallel tracks documenting Robyn Davidson’s astonishing journey.
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker
Life Dancers, 2015 by Elizabeth Looker

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2016

Previous exhibition, 2016

The National Photographic Portrait Prize 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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