[no title] 1997

Curator: Tracey Moffatt, born in 1960, made this untitled photograph, printed in black and white, which is now part of the Tate collection. Editor: It has a really haunting quality, like a scene from a dream—or perhaps a nightmare. The figures are posed in such a way to make you wonder about themes like vulnerability or sacrifice. Curator: Moffatt often explores themes of identity, race, and the representation of Aboriginal Australians in her work, so the setting, the poses, and the monochrome palette all speak to a history of colonial power dynamics. Editor: Absolutely. It feels charged with a sense of unease and perhaps even violence—a reflection on historical injustices, maybe? Also the landscape in the background is particularly beautiful. Curator: Precisely. And thinking about photography as a medium, it has been used to document and often misrepresent Indigenous peoples. So in a sense, Moffat is reclaiming that history, or at least questioning its validity. Editor: Thank you, this artwork is really thought provoking! I hope listeners spend some time sitting with this image.