A Prime Time To Visit the National Portrait Gallery

By Benjamen Judd

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

If there is one thing we can all secretly agree on is that we enjoy a good dose of television and celebrity media. Which is why the PROMO: Portraits from Prime Time exhibition now showing at the National Portrait Gallery is like a whopping exercise in indulgence disguised as art that we feel not one bit guilty about attending.

Showing until June 9, PROMO: Portraits from prime time takes you behind-the-scenes and into the spotlight of the entertainment industry. Contemporary photographic portraiture shapes how we see the most recognisable Australians – comedians, musicians, presenters and actors. These images are usually absorbed in the split second between a page turn or a mouse click. Their creators reflect on the intense energy that generates an effortless and instantly satisfying portrait.

This is a fun, and fascinating exploration of the photographic medium and the construction of celebrity identity and the way that portraiture constructs, projects and reinforces images of Australian personalities. The public persona, brand or personal image of an actor, comedian, presenter or musician is partly defined by their portrait – at least for a moment.

Promo: Portraits from prime time is now showing at the National Portrait Gallery until June 9.