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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Blek Bala MJ, 2017

by Timothy Hillier

Finalist, Digital Portraiture Award 2017
Single channel HD digital video
Soundtrack by Tori Holleman

Blek Bala MJ, 2017 by Timothy Hillier. Video length: 6 minutes

I collaborated on this film with Danzel Baker (aka Baker Boy). Baker slips between the dance styling of Michael Jackson and his Yolngu culture’s traditional dance, both of which his father taught him from a young age. The video is in the tradition of French filmmaker Jean Rouch.

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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