Aussie Street adds Matt Stuart to lineup of international guests for 2019
Emerging Australian street photography festival, Aussie Street have announced the addition of world-renowned British street photographer and Magnum nominee Matt Stuart to their lineup of international guests for 2019.
The festival, which will take place from the 19th to the 22nd of September in Sydney will see competitions, workshops, exhibitions and events aimed at bringing “Australian Street photography to the world’s stage by connecting local and international street photography communities” with Stuart slated to host a workshop as well as take a seat on the festival’s judging panel.
In recent years, Stuart has cemented his place among the world’s best street photographers transporting the attentive vision of classic New York practitioners like Meyerowitz and Winogrand to the alleys and promenades of his home in London — much of which was curated into his first and widely celebrated photo book (now in its second print run), All That Life Can Afford.
The APJ caught up with Stuart for a brief chat and to hear what exactly he’s hoping to achieve during his whirlwind tour of Sydney this September.
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How did the plan for this trip to Australia come about? What will your time here involve, what do you plan to do and see?
It was Jesse Marlow’s idea, he’s been a good friend for almost twenty years and we don’t get to see each other enough, so coming to Australia to catch up with some old friends was my main reason to be honest!
What’s your perception of photography (and in particular street photography) in Australia at the moment? Are there any Aussie photographers now or past that have inspired/intrigued you?
Obviously Trent and Narelle have been great friends and inspirations to me over the last twenty years. Their output as a couple is almost unsurpassed anywhere in the world. More recently I’ve been attracted to some of the younger generations work including Sam Ferris and many of the new breed of photographers coming out of Sydney and Melbourne.
What are you expecting in terms of subject matter and light here? Sam Ferris and some other local guys have been making the most of Sydney’s harsh and dramatic light? Are you expecting radically different conditions to London?
I’ve travelled to Australia many times over the last twenty years so am very familiar with the light and heat! Although you might not believe it, London gets great light too when the sun shines, so I’m not really expecting major differences.
Anything or anyone in particular that you are excited about seeing within the Aussie Street festival itself?
I’m keen to meet Sam [Ferris] and his crew and my new friend Nelson who I recently returned from a road trip down the Californian coast from . He’s a cool guy.
What are your ideas on Australian photography within a global context at the moment? Have you come across many Aussies at your workshops or at festivals in Europe. Why do you think it is that we seem to be a little under-represented say in big agencies like Magnum et al?
I’ve seen a few Australians at workshops and festivals, I think as a whole the country produces some bloody great photographers. I remember being addicted to some of the Oculi groups work 15 odd years ago. I think the main reason for lack of representation is literally location. It is so far away and the time difference is ridiculous. I know Trent has found it almost impossible to get to Magnum meetings on the other side of the world. However the great think we all have now is the internet, which brings us all closer together no matter how far away we are. Without the internet I wouldn’t have met Trent, Narelle or Jesse. So even though so far, we all keep in contact on a regular basis and can motivate and inspire each other no matter how far away we are.
I’m looking forward to sinking a few skooners with you all. G’day!
For more info on AS2019 and to pre-register interest in Stuart’s workshop, visit the AS website here: https://www.aussiestreet.com.au/as2019