Robyn Stacey
Bringing history to life
In this lesson you will investigate the practice of contemporary Australian photographic artist Robyn Stacey.
'Stacey is one of Australia’s leading photographic artists... Through the contemporary medium of photography Stacey brings historical collections to life on a monumental scale, interrogating what these collections meant for the original owners and brilliantly interweaving personal historical narratives into sumptuous still lifes.'
Robyn Stacey
Beau Monde (pink), 2006,
from the series Beau Monde,
chromogenic print,
120 x 120 cm
Above: Robyn Stacey, Gorilla skull, 2005, Type C colour photograph, 100.0 h x 162.0 w cm, Collection of the National Gallery of Australia
" 'Gorilla skull' 2005 comes from Stacey’s Beau monde series which draws on collections at the Macleay Museum, Sydney, and recalls the tradition of the Dutch genre of nature morte paintings in which the still-life objects provide a moral lesson on the vanity of world. The reference to the gorilla (a threatened species symbolising humankind) and coral (a threatened wonder of Australia’s northern coast) alongside dead specimens under the microscope and an ominously placed geological hammer, combine to create an anxiety often found in her early works. Stacey’s art entertains and yet reminds us of dangers to the planet" .
Quote from Gael Newton, Senior Curator, Photography at the National Gallery of Australia and image via https://cs.nga.gov.au/detail.cfm?irn=165160 Accessed on 17/03/2020.Robyn Stacey
Walnuts, 2009
type C photograph
90.0 x 67.5 cm
Collection of the Art Gallery of NSW
Activity
- Imagine you are a curator for the Art Gallery of NSW. Your task is to select artworks for an upcoming exhibition of contemporary still life works.
- Use the internet to research and then choose two photographs by Robyn Stacey to include in the exhibition
- Write a succinct one paragraph statement about each work explaining the artists practice including her ideas and use of techniques and materials.
- Interacting with text: choose one of the articles shared below in the 'Further reading' category.
- Make a list of 5 words you are less familiar with. Find a definition of each of these words.
- Highlight or copy out three quotes that refer to the artists use of materials and techniques.
- In a different colour highlight or copy out a section of text that refers to cultural/ historical meanings in the works.
- Imagine that you had to give this article a NEW title. What would you call this article?
Further reading
Practical Task- Year 11 students
3. Take a series of photographs using a phone or camera of arranged objects that tell of your family history or values.
You might consider using trinkets, old photographs, materials such as lace or tablecloths, objects that have been passed on from relatives, trophies, religious items, holiday memorabilia etc. Make sure you have permission to use the objects before you start.
Carefully arrange these objects on a table top. You might use some cardboard, wall-paper or even a sheet to create a background you are happy with. You could also investigate different lighting- can you use a lamp to create soft or stark lighting? What is the effect?
Take several photographs of your collection. If you have downloaded the Adobe suite from the Department of Education website you can use this to manipulate your digital images. You can also use any other editing software you have access to.
Upload your best photograph to the shared digital platform used by your class for feedback.
4. Have you got a collection of similar objects? Look at the way that Robyn Stacey has arranged the butterflies in 'Beau Monde (pink)'. Photograph a careful arrangement of a collection of mundane everyday objects.
Consider placing them in a simple shape and/ or arranging them by colour. You could use cutlery, lego, marbles, pens, teacups, clothes pegs etc. Make sure that the background does not distract from the objects. Document the arrangement using a phone or digital camera.