Contact Australia Series:
A Portrait Collection of Indigenous Peoples
First, I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation and the Wurundjeri people, the traditional custodians of Sydney and Melbourne for which this series was photographed on, and pay my respects to the Elders both past and present.
2020 marks the year of “First Contact” in Australia, and with this series I wanted to focus on Indigenous peoples and the contact we currently have with one another. The portraits how the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who currently and have always called what is currently known as Australia, home. Additionally, over the 2 years I spent in Australia, I met many other Indigenous peoples from elsewhere who now call Australia home.
The people in this series I met through a variety of ways. Some I met through friends, others at events, and many through social media whether it was Facebook/Twitter/Instagram. The thing that linked us was being Indigenous and having a respect and understanding of each other, a commonality.
I have been able to build relationships with a vast network of Indigenous Peoples now, which has been what made my experience in Australia so amazing. In this series you will see people of a variety of backgrounds, with a wide range of skin tones and looks. Some may challenge your perception of what Aboriginal people look like, or other Indigenous groups, or who is Indigenous.
In 2020, Indigenous Peoples exist as athletes, doctors, lawyers, singers, musicians, directors, students, playwrights, caregivers, activists, actors, among a plethora of other things. These are just a few of the identities people in this series hold.
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing portraits from the series, so keep checking back.
Miigwech/Thank you,
John Paillé