Daly River artist and designer Jacob Nash was Head of Design at Bangarra Dance Theatre between 2010 and 2023, where he worked on over 20 productions. Alongside his design work, Nash produced photographs that document the action behind the scenes. While his photographs appear candid, they carry weight, capturing his subjects in the slip between the stage and the outside world. The dancers are photographed in the paint-up room, a sacred space where ochre is applied to the body in intentional designs. Through this process, the dancers become storytellers and are intimately connected to culture. Invited into this space, Nash captures this transformative practice with respect and reverence.
This portrait of Beau Dean Riley Smith was taken backstage at Barangaroo, on Gadigal Land, while the dancer was waiting to go on stage for Bangarra's performance of Spirit for the Sydney Festival 2021. Nash described the photograph as: 'A moment between two worlds. I have photographed Beau all over the country and world in moments where he is transforming from one spirit to another. I had never seen him in a hoodie pre-show before.'
Purchased with funds provided by Wayne Williams 2023
© Jacob Nash
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Rebecca Ray goes backstage with Bangarra’s Head of Design and photographer Jacob Nash.
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