Perth Voice Interactive

TWELVE Noongar leaders will be honoured at a photography exhibition opening this weekend at the Perth Town Hall.

The portraits for Gnarla Moort (our people) were taken by photographer Eva Fernández, who says historically some photography has been used against Aboriginal people.

“Throughout the history of photography it’s been used quite detrimentally, and more recently in the media,” she says.

“There’s lots of colonial images that are quite horrific and not necessarily accurate: They always tried to present them in the eyes of the coloniser with not always accurate representations.”

Examples include staged images complete with props to make Aboriginal people look “savage”, intended to titillate audiences back home with exotic images but also to drive a colonial agenda.

Fernández wanted to get outside the stereotype. She worked closely with subjects like Hazel Winmar—who died in August aged 100—travelling to Kellerberrin to get to know her before the shoot.

“I showed them the photos before we decided which ones we use, because that was really important for me [that] I made sure all along the way they were part of the process.

“Everyone was really happy and it was quite heartwarming how happy they were. When we showed some of them they were brought to tears.

“They were all amazing and open and friendly.”

She says photography has a special place for a lot of Noongar people: When families were split up, sometimes all they had was a photo of their family members.

Some subjects were political leaders who’d dedicated their lives to human rights.

Others like Janet Hayden took care of the next generation, looking after many extended family and other kids, some white.

“She said she’d had a hundred children throughout her house at her cost, with no help from anyone. She doesn’t live in an affluent position.”

The Gnarla Moort exhibition is on at the Perth Town Hall October 17 to November 2.

by DAVID BELL