© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2007 Finalist
In his time he had played a clown, a madman, a pirate, a pianist, a count, a drug dealer, a dog and an alchemist, and now he was putting on the mask again, to play a king who dies. I have a collection of dressing room shots as I often go to plays and am a lover of theatre. I've photographed Geoffrey before at the Belvoir Street Theatre; we both have a connection to it. This was before he won the Oscar, but he always acknowledges that we knew each other before that defining event. He's not shy and was running around the dressing room in his underpants the whole time. When I asked him if I could use the photos he said, well not too many in my underpants. Not that I've chosen an underpants shot; it was the face that intrigued, half made up - the character of the deluded king combined with the real person, the actor, the veteran of many plays.
William Yang on his heritage and becoming a photographer in the 70s.
An interview with photographer William Yang who recalls his encounters with the author Patrick White.
Celebrated Sydney-based photographer and performer William Yang was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to produce a new performance work that premiered at the opening of the Gallery's new building.
