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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.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Old growth/New growth, 2023

Dean Cross

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024 Finalist

pigment photographic print on paper (frame: 111.7cm x 80.2cm depth 4.0cm)

Dean Cross
Worimi
born Australia 1986

Old growth/New growth 2023
pigment photographic print on paper

‘This image was made in an old growth forest in a secret corner of Walbunja Country near Braidwood, NSW, four days before the birth of our twins. Both photographer and subject are on a precipice; our world was about to change forever. Like the seed that preceded that giant tree, our boys contain a universe and that universe is contained within my wife Bridgette. The joy she possessed in that moment has carried through every day of being with our boys; a mother blossoming like the small white flowers of the tree behind her.’

Based on Walbunja Country, Dean Cross is an artist and Worimi man through his paternal bloodline. He is interested in the collision of materials, ideas and histories, and enacts First Nations sovereignty through expanded contemporary art methodologies.

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

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