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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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Who carries us?, 2010

by Toby Stuart

Who carries us?, 2010

Year 9, Bluegum Community School ACT
digital print

This image was inspired by Bob Marley's song No woman no cry, specifically the line 'my feet are my only carriage'. My interpretation of these lyrics is that our shoes are a form of transport that we take almost everywhere. Inside the shoes are my classmate's personal objects, signifying who he is. I feel shoes really reflect who we are in the way we wear them, if they have acquired patina, or what style they are. I constructed the light box that I used to take this photograph. This gives the image a neutral and calm look.

Headspace 10

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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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