The Art Gallery of Western Australia

Participate in The Bureau of Ideas at the Art Gallery Café. The title of this discussion is Jeff Wall: The Seduction of Fictionwhich will be considered by guest speakers Philip Goldswain of UWA and Dr. Juha Tolonen of ECU.

Chairperson : Julian Goddard

The Potential of Banal
Despite their cinematic staging, much of Jeff Wall’s art begins with an examination of the banal. These observations are amplified by its photographic representation, drawing on imagery and techniques from other media and traditions, which transform these day to day moments. Wall’s practice offers the opportunity to consider the implications of these translations of the everyday and what it means for both art and photography.

Philip Goldswain
Associate Dean/Lecturer, School of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts, University of Western Australia

Is it Still Photography?
Jeff Wall has played a significant role in photography's move into the realm of high art. Like other practitioners of new photography he discards the documentary for the cinematic. As a result, we no longer seek out traces of reality in the pictures, but rather, traces of the artist's hand. We discard the genius of the medium, for the genius of the artist. It’s art, but is it still photography?

Dr Juha Tolonen
Adjunct Lecturer, School of Communication and Arts, Edith Cowan University

Cost: $10 & $5 concession at the door.