Belinda Mason
The fragile cargo of the human soul is laid bare in the photography of Belinda Mason, winner of the 2008 Moran Prize for portraiture. These Intimate Encounters trash taboos and empower ordinary Australians living with extraordinary twists of fate
Belinda Mason is back in Sydney from Maningrida Arnhem Land where she's been documenting indigenous culture on-and-off for 20 years.
"We're working on a unique project, a handover of sorts - working with communities to empower them to record their own images of their culture instead of white people like me doing it," she laughs.
Mervyn Bishop was one of the program's mentors laughs at Mason's efforts. "I saw (Belinda) rushing here and there, doing work and I laughed. I said running around doing our businesses will one day kill you!"
"Aboriginal people are laughing - we have survived the past, the now and we will survive the future."
Empowerment. That's Mason's raison d'etre. Heavily decorated in her field - including the prestigious Moran Prize this year - this artist devotes much of her time to supporting charities that society deems taboo.
"For me, we cannot argue when someone says ‘I feel...' because it is not our right. It is part of our own journey to learn empathy rather than compassion."
Mason maintains a trust called Intimate Encounters under the umbrella of the Perpetual Foundation where sales of images are donated 100 per cent to that charity.
The images shown here are part of a photographic essay that has already toured London, New York, New Zealand and Barcelona, and as of next week, Sydney.
Revealing, compelling, disturbing, enlightening and empowering. Says Mason: "Our own reaction to the images exposes us to ourselves and our ability to listen when someone lays their naked soul in our path."
To support and donate: (1800 501 227 foundations@perpetual.com.au)