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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Baz Luhrmann

2000
Ingvar Kenne

type C photograph on paper (frame: 103.0 cm x 103.0 cm, sheet: 100.0 cm x 100.0 cm)

Baz Luhrmann (b. 1962), filmmaker, aspired to be an actor, appearing in Winter of Our Dreams (1981) and studying acting at NIDA before turning to directing. In 1986 he and fellow NIDA students devised a successful one-act stage piece called Strictly Ballroom, which toured Australia the following year. After mounting an acclaimed La Bohème for Opera Australia, he co-wrote and directed the film version of Strictly Ballroom (1992), which won eight Australian Film Institute awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. His 1996 hit Romeo + Juliet was followed by Moulin Rouge (2001), which premiered triumphantly at Cannes and earned eight Oscar nominations, Australia (2008), and an audacious adaptation of The Great Gatsby (2013). Luhrmann's sixth feature film, Elvis, premiered at Cannes in May 2022.

Many of Ingvar Kenne's portraits involve the same square presentation, medium format camera, colour film, and whatever background is available. 'The less the subject tries to convey their emotions the more they speak to the viewer,' Kenne says. 'I think I pay almost more attention to the background than the person, at least initially. Commissioned work or non-commissioned work, it's often a place that attracts me.' He photographed Luhrmann on the set of Moulin Rouge.

Gift of the artist 2006
© Ingvar Kenne

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Ingvar Kenne (age 35 in 2000)

Baz Luhrmann (age 38 in 2000)

Subject professions

Performing arts

Donated by

Ingvar Kenne (15 portraits)

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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.

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