SYDNEY.- The Australian Centre for Photography presents Under the Sun: Reimagining Max Dupain’s Sunbaker, a large scale exhibition of new works commissioned from 15 artists responding to Australian photographer Max Dupain’s iconic Sunbaker image.

The artists are Peta Clancy, Christopher Day, Destiny Deacon, Michaela Gleave, Nasim Nasr, Sara Oscar, Julie Rrap, Khaled Sabsabi, Yhonnie Scarce, Christian Thompson, Angela Tiatia, Kawita Vatanajyankur, Daniel Von Sturmer, Justene Williams and William Yang.

The exhibition is being presented at the State Library of NSW in Sydney from 18 February until 17 April 2017 and in Melbourne at Monash Gallery of Art from 6 May until 6 August 2017.

Under The Sun explores views of our culture, our identity and our nationhood through works that will surprise, challenge and enthuse audiences. The artists reflect Australia’s multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-faith nature, enabling a creative and often very personal exploration of the question ‘is there something new under the sun?’ These artists contemplate, and interpret Max Dupain’s photograph – a symbol of a particular time and vision of Australian culture – while offering unique perspectives on what it could possibly signify in our current society.

Exhibition curator, Claire Monneraye said: “The 15 artists will not only interrogate the social and political implications embedded within this image but also challenge the status of this photograph in our visual culture. Pushing the boundaries of the photographic medium, their works will expose the aesthetical complexities at play in discussions around collective identity.

Examining the legacy of the past and questioning the relevance that this image might retain in the future, the project draws on a range of diverse practitioners and creative forms to consider questions of representation and cultural pluralism while also reflecting on the depiction of the idealised body, discussing gender issues, cultural and political ideas relating to immigration and colonisation, and our relationship with the land.”

Newly appointed ACP Director, Cherie McNair comments: “The ACP has inspired and continues to inspire generations of Australians to connect and engage with photography. I am thrilled to be joining ACP at the commencement of the exhibition Under the Sun with the commissioning of fifteen of Australia’s most stimulating artists responding to Dupain’s iconic image with new and inspiring works.

“The opening of this exhibition coincides with the relaunch of Photofile magazine, under the new editorship of Daniel Boetker-Smith and I am delighted to have Daniel on board at this pivotal time in ACP’s transformation”, continued Ms McNair.