Full program announced for Ballarat International Foto Biennale

Ballarat's International Foto Biennale (BIFB) has announced its full program, with more than 2,000 photographic works set to be showcased over the eight week-long event.

This year’s Festival theme is The Real Thing – the title of Russell Morris’ 1969 six-minute surround sounding musical trip which was fresh to ears at the time.

Like Morris’ song, event organisers are hoping the 10th edition of this year’s Foto Biennale will be an all encompassing and all-immersive experience.

CEO of Ballarat International Foto Biennale Vanessa Gerrans, says this year's event encourages curiosity.

“We have reached far and wide into all corners of the world to bring together the greatest collection of photographs that have documented our generation. It’s up to the viewer to have an opinion as to what is real and what is not," she said.

The Biennnale highlight is likely to be the world premiere of People Power – Platon which will feature portraits taken by New York photographer Platon of headline makers and shakers of today.

In addition, the work of celebrated Indian street photographer Vineet Vohra will be highlighted in an in-depth display of the photographer’s most important works.

Considered one of the most influential street photographers of his generation, Vohra will also be holding limited workshops studying the streets and style of Ballarat.

Also celebrating street style is Instant Warhol – 59 original Polaroids taken by Andy Warhol, capturing people, parties and pop culture of the 1970s and ‘80s.

Making its Australian premiere, New Zealand photographer Yvonne Todd’s The Stephanie Collection will feature compelling photographs and moving image, enticing curious audiences to look twice and explore their comfort levels and awkward feelings towards the works.

Exclusive to Ballarat, the world premiere of Swedish photographer Erik Johansson's How to Fly is described as a breathtaking suite of surreal landscapes and optical illusions that defy reality.

The images are influenced by Johansson's childhood memories of the Swedish countryside. 

The Biennale will also feature a number of Australian premieres include first-time exhibitions from Stephen Dupont with Fucked Up Fotos, Michael Jalaru Torres with Vessel, Colleen Raven Strangways’ UV Songlines: Illuminating ancestral roots and the Australian exclusive of the Michael Kantor Portrait Prize.

Other festival highlights include Speed Dating with Oculi, described as an exclusive opportunity to meet with Oculi Collective photographers including Conor Ashleigh, Abigail Varney, Judith Nangala Crispin, Jesse Marlow, Dean Sewell, Tamara Voininski and Andrew Quilty. Attendees can get feedback on a project or pitch an idea with 10-minutes of advice from each photographer. 

In addition, there are also single day and multi-day workshops with photographers including Travis Trewin, Meg Hewitt, William Yang, Jesse Marlow and Vineet Vohra covering everything from street photography, portraiture and marketing. 

Ballarat International Foto Biennale is on from 26 August to 22 October 2023 in Ballarat, Victoria (approximately 90 minutes from Melbourne.)

Tickets for the BIFB are available now. You can also find a comprehensive array of programs from workshops to walking tours at ballaratfoto.org.