Media Release
Powerhouse Photography Commissions Announced
Powerhouse has today announced the recipients of two major photography commissions, the Powerhouse Photography Architectural Commission and the First Nations Right of Reply Photography Commission. Guwa-Koa, Gungarri, and Kuku Yalanji photographer Jo-Anne Driessens and Architecture photographer Tasha Tylee have each been awarded a $20,000 photography commission, which will see them collaborate with Powerhouse over the next 12 months to develop major new works.
The First Nations Right of Reply Photography Commission invites an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander photographer to undertake a commission that responds to the Powerhouse Collection with the intent to Indigenise, counter and investigate narratives of the applied arts and sciences through a First Nations lens.
Jo-Anne Driessens has developed her photography practice documenting community and place in urban, remote and regional Aboriginal communities over the past 30 years. Since completing a photography cadetship at the State Library of Queensland in 1999, Driessens has worked in various photography and curatorial roles with a focus on archival and anthropological research exhibition programs and Aboriginal Family history support.
For Driessens the camera is an important tool for capturing the preservation of living culture in First Nations communities. This tool will remain central in Driessens’ commission project as she collaborates with Powerhouse staff, First Nations knowledge keepers, cultural advisers and Country to create an experimental pin hole camera with natural materials.
The Powerhouse Photography Architectural Commission aims to develop new perspectives on Australian architecture and the built environment, with a focus on construction, urban development, housing, infrastructure and sustainability.
Tasha Tylee’s slow, deliberate approach to documenting spaces has resulted in working with some of Australia’s top firms, most notably capturing Naples Street House by Edition Office, the 2024 AIA National Winner of The Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture.
Focusing on themes of sustainability and climate, the Melbourne-based photographer will document innovation in architecture and the Australian built environment by following newly developed sustainable materials from their natural form, through to manufacturing, fabrication, installation, and their final use in a completed build.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said, ‘Powerhouse is excited to be collaborating with Jo-Anne Driessens and Tasha Tylee on these unique commissions for Powerhouse Parramatta. These photographers showcase the diversity of Australian photographic practice, documenting our past and present through the lens of culture and environment.’
First Nations Right to Reply Commission recipient Jo-Anne Driessens said, ‘This opportunity is happening at the exact right time and place in my career and I am honoured to have the doors held open to work closely with the Powerhouse staff over the next 12 months. I am looking forward to challenging the narratives and grateful to embark on a slower, experimental photography process through the fusion of Culture, Science, Art.’
Powerhouse Photography Architectural Commission recipient Tasha Tylee said, ‘I am honoured to be selected for The Powerhouse Photography Architectural Commission. This incredible opportunity allows me to expand the scope of my practice and document the future of sustainable architecture and the built environment within Australia. In light of the ongoing climate crisis, I’ve been reflecting on how we can collaborate to build a more sustainable future. As an image maker, I believe I have a unique opportunity to contribute by visually capturing and sharing these innovative ideas.’
Both commissions are initiatives of Powerhouse Photography, an industry-led program dedicated to amplifying the profile of Australian photography and lens-based practice through an ongoing series of programs, publications, learning and research activities. This initiative supports photographers through commissions, acquisitions, and national and international engagement opportunities and is supported by funds generously donated by the Australian Centre of Photography.
Learn more about Powerhouse Photography and the successful photography commission recipients at https://ph.au/3DzT35y
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About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.2 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the new museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to the Powerhouse Collection.
About Jo-Anne Driessens
Jo-Anne Driessens was raised in Brisbane, Queensland and is a Guwa-Koa, Gungarri, Kuku Yalanji descendant. Having completed a photography cadetship in 1999 at the State Library of Queensland, Jo-Anne continued working as a photographer and also across various arts and curatorial specialised roles including archival and anthropological research; exhibition programs and Aboriginal Family history support. These skills have and continue to provide a holistic approach towards specialised creative projects since the mid-90’s.
About Tasha Tylee
Tasha Tylee is a New Zealand-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based architectural photographer. Predominantly working with analogue film, Tasha embraces a considered and intentional process, allowing her to authentically document spaces with an intuitive sensitivity. Her work transcends conventional representation, seeking to convey the atmosphere and emotional resonance of a space. Through her unique treatment of colour and tone, she creates immersive experiences that invite the viewer to engage meaningfully with the subject.
With a strong affinity for the natural world, Tasha draws inspiration from its organic forms, light and rhythms, which often inform her photographic style. She has a particular interest in the intersection of sustainability, innovative design, and architecture, and is committed to advancing her practice in these dynamic and forward-thinking fields.