Midland Thugs (Printed & Framed)

This triptych is a poetic enquiry into the fragility and impermanence of the human psyche and the beauty of being. There is a clear delineation between the artist’s own imagery and found vintage ephemera. It creates a conversation exploring the perceived separation and duality of the seen and thought, the witness and the witnessing, and both esoteric and exoteric aesthetics.
 
The work can be viewed as a portal into the person photographed and, yet on another level, it also represents the artist. It invites interaction from the viewer to write their own narrative through personal experience—both trauma and triumph.
 
This portrait of Robbie was made on the streets of Maylands, Western Australia, as part of "Portraits from the Pavement", an ongoing series of photographic portraits made of strangers Brett Canét-Gibson meets on the streets of Perth Western Australia.
 
The "Portraits from the Pavement" project began in 2015.Over the last 6 years, portraits from this series have been exhibited in the National Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, six times—with five images represented (winning Highly Commended and People’s Choice in the same year with two different images, the first photographer in the history of the prize to do so). The series has also seen Canét-Gibson selected as a finalist in the Head On International Photography Awards (winning People’s Choice); the Olive Cotton Prize for Portraiture, twice; the Percival Prize, with two images selected—one of which won First Prize); and the Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Awards, just to name a few. Images from the series have also featured on national and international magazine covers.
 
Note: 
This image was created with the consent of the subject featured in it.
 
For more info:
Please refer to printed Artist Statement.
 
                                   
 
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live and play, the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar.

We recognise their continued connection to the land and waters of this beautiful place, and acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors, and all First Nations people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this exhibition (and any channels and platforms used to promote it) may contain images of deceased persons.