Seconded By: Simon Newton,
Shane Hulbert’s photographic practice acknowledges landscape as a relational space between people, culture and nature. Through a range of photographic devices and processes he images the complexity of the Australian landscape and its connection to place, myth and history.
Import/Export explores the collective national identity through the popular iconography and myths that celebrates and defines Australian cultural identity. Featuring a combination of location, personality and ‘larakin’ humour, the photographs consider ways in which the idea of Australia is encapsulated in foreign locations, while concurrently responding to the evolving assimilation of imported cultural icons and their relationship to contemporary Australia.
The images present a collective national identity through distinct and now popular representations that illustrates a fascination with the connections between place, history and culture.
Liberty Wham Glam
Iconic Statue of Liberty sign for The Manhattan Hotel in an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne Australia The feature event Wham Glam aligns with the then recent same sex marriage laws passed in Australia
Spirit of Bengali, Grampians, Australia
Statue of an Indian man riding a horse located outside an Indian Restaurant in Halls Gap with the Grampian Ranges in the background The Grampians are a well known mountain range in Victoria Australia
Sydney, Window of the World, Shenzhen, China
Chinese tourists enjoying the popular theme part Window of the World in Shenzhen southern China The image celebrates Australian architecture and landmarks The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House with the canals of Holland and Paris Eiffel Tour in the background The women in the centre is capturing a selfie
Ned Kelly
Australian bar in Kowloon Hong Kong Ned Kelly is an iconic Australian bushranger who famously made a last stand in the town of Glenrowan Victoria
Terry
Drive through and take away restaurant in a southern Melbourne suburb A collision of Chinese and Italian cuisine creates a reflection on the multiculturalism of Australia
Fort Silverado, Broken Hill
Broken Hill is a mining town on the edge of the Australian Outback desert Fort Silverado is a local gun club shooting range in Broken Hill referencing a narrative and town in Texas US Bronek Hill is home to the first foreign assult on Australian during World War 1 - questioning why the gun club imported a location and story from the US
Sea Dragon, Coonabarabran, New South Wales
Interior of a Chinese restaurant in a remote country town in New South Wales Australia The opulent decor highlights the importation of culture and food from China
His and Hers Kelly Armour, Australia
Interior of a cafe in Glenrowan Victoria Glenrowan is the location of Australian Bushranger Ned Kelly s infamous last stand and the inclusion of a replica of his original armour is humorously offset by the addition of the pink hers armour
Monaro Quran
The Monaro is an iconic male Australian petrol-head car The inclusion of the personalised number plate - Quran creates an ironic reference to Middle Eastern men embracing the classic Australian car culture
