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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.

Technical terminology

Michael Desmond introduces some of the ideas behind the exhibition Present Tense: An imagined grammar of portraiture in the digital age.

More information on Technical terminology

Selected images

6 images
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Lucy, 2001
Lucy, 2001
Ghost in the shell, 2008
Ghost in the shell, 2008
Herv Blechy 15, 2008
Herv Blechy 15, 2008
Skull, 2000
Skull, 2000
Posters from Occupied Territory, 2010
Posters from Occupied Territory, 2010
Fitzroy, 2010
Fitzroy, 2010
6 images
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Related information

Lucy, 2001
Lucy, 2001
Lucy, 2001
Lucy, 2001

Present Tense

An Imagined Grammar of Portraiture in the Digital Age

Previous exhibition, 2010

Technology has been a major influence on art since the invention of the camera, particularly in the field of portraiture.
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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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