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Mervyn Bishop in Black, White and Colour
Fri
24
Fri 24 Oct 6:00 PM
Liangis Theatre | National Portrait Gallery
Wheelchair
General Admission
60 Mins
October
The image of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pouring earth into Vincent Lingiari's hands is seared into the national consciousness. But few know the story of the man behind the lens: Mervyn Bishop, Australia's first Indigenous professional newspaper and government photographer. Now his story is brought to amazing life in Black, White + Colour, the illustrated biography by Tim Dobbyn. Mervyn used charm and talent to talk his way onto the Sydney Morning Herald photo staff at just 17 years of age. From there his work took him around Australia, documenting a nation in transition. And through it all Mervyn experienced professional and artistic triumphs, while coping with personal tragedy. Join Mervyn and Tim, in conversation with Professor Brenda L. Croft, ANU Professor of Indigenous Art History and Curatorship, to hear how Mervyn's life and work helped Australians more clearly see themselves.
Tim Dobbyn is a former journalist who started at Australian Associated Press in 1981 before moving to the United States in 1987 to work for Reuters. After taking a break from daily journalism, he worked freelance jobs before starting work on the Mervyn Bishop biography in 2018. He and his family have known Bishop since 1962. He lives near Washington D.C. with his wife Sheila
Born in Brewarrina NSW in 1945, Mervyn Bishop joined The Sydney Morning Herald at just 17. He won a top photography award but no pay increase. Disillusioned, Bishop moved to Canberra and took the iconic photo of Gough Whitlam pouring earth into the hands of Vincent Lingiari. He later returned to Sydney, leading to a solo exhibition in 1991. But his wife died just hours before the opening. Celebrated for chronicling the rising visibility of Indigenous Australians, Bishop is also proud of his "Whitefella pictures". He carved his own path, navigating the Black and White worlds of post-war Australia.
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Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.
Tim Dobbyn is a former journalist who started at Australian Associated Press in 1981 before moving to the United States in 1987 to work for Reuters. After taking a break from daily journalism, he worked freelance jobs before starting work on the Mervyn Bishop biography in 2018. He and his family have known Bishop since 1962. He lives near Washington D.C. with his wife Sheila
Born in Brewarrina NSW in 1945, Mervyn Bishop joined The Sydney Morning Herald at just 17. He won a top photography award but no pay increase. Disillusioned, Bishop moved to Canberra and took the iconic photo of Gough Whitlam pouring earth into the hands of Vincent Lingiari. He later returned to Sydney, leading to a solo exhibition in 1991. But his wife died just hours before the opening. Celebrated for chronicling the rising visibility of Indigenous Australians, Bishop is also proud of his "Whitefella pictures". He carved his own path, navigating the Black and White worlds of post-war Australia.
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Concession Tickets apply for children under the age of 16, full-time students, Commonwealth Health Care Card holders, Commonwealth Seniors Card Holders and Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card holders. Please have your eligible card with you at the venue.