July 9, 2015

By Karen O’Sullivan

Blue Stocking is thrilled with the fantastic turn out for our private tour of the World Press Photo Exhibition 2015 in Perth, Australia.  The Exhibition was hosted by the Western Australian Museum and the tour was conducted by the Dutch curator on 4 July 2015.

We were also extremely lucky to have a personal audience with Raphaela Rosella – the young indigenous Australian photographer whose captivating photograph ‘Laurinda’ won the portrait section of the competition – and Brenda Keneally – the acclaimed New York photojournalist who has spent a lifetime working with youth and families on the margins.

Raphaela and Brenda’s work speaks volumes about the cycle of disadvantage that exists both on the edges and in the hearts of our developed cities; and in particular the structural inequality and gender inequality that results in violence against women.  It was difficult not to be moved and outraged by such powerful visual story-telling (see links below).  Those themes were also echoed and reflected in the wider World Press Photo exhibition.  Photos relating the Nigerian schoolgirl abductions, sex workers in China, homosexuality in Russia, and a transgender school in Indonesia highlight the way gender inequality is still such a fundamental issue that permeates current affairs on the global stage.

Money raised from the tour ($330) has been donated to the YMCA Belmont in Perth towards their youth arts program.  Brenda Keneally has just completed a photo-story workshop with kids from that centre to great acclaim. Congratulations to everyone involved with this important work and to World Press Photo more generally.

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The Bluestocking Institute is very pleased to be able to offer our members and friends an exclusive, private tour of the World Press Photo Exhibition 2015. The Exhibition arrives in Perth on 4 July 2015 and showcases over 200 award-winning images covering critical social and cultural images. It is the world’s most prestigious international contest in photojournalism.

This year, the Exhibition covers issues as diverse as Ebola in Liberia, the conflict in Syria, and homosexuality in Russia. One of the winning photos in the portrait section is by acclaimed Australian Indigenous photographer, Raphaella Rosella. Not to be missed.

If you would like to join our private tour of the exhibition – with a focus on gender themes – please RSVP by 30 June to bluestocking@bluestockinginstitute.org.  Places are limited!  The cost of $20 per person will be donated to a youth photography project being run concurrently with Belmont Library.

What:      World Press Photo Exhibition,
Private Tour for Bluestocking Institute members

Where:    Western Australian Museum, Perth Cultural Centre

When:     Saturday, 4 July 2015, 10.00am