Mongolian Lens 1 exhibition raises awareness of social issues

RMIT School of Media and Communication Industry Fellow Jerry Galea is raising awareness of social issues with his exhibition, Mongolian Lens 1 – part of his research into "Exploring Mongolian Society in Transition through Documentary Photography". 

For close to 30 years, Mongolians were the subject and object of photographs seen through the eyes of the government politburo as well as adventurous travellers. Now, Galea wants to focus on the significance of the photograph within Mongolian society and celebrate Mongolians being in front of and behind the lens, to present their view of their own world.

“I’m excited to showcase these new emerging documentary photographers,” Galea said.

“Mongolia is in the throes of change, and this exhibition gives Mongolian photographers an opportunity to express their opinions to an international community and understand their world in pictures.

“Attendees can expect to experience a close-up and intimate view of the social change and tensions of this extraordinary nation,” he said.

A curated collection of thirty images will be on display that will tell the story of a nation’s struggle as its traditional ways of life become unsustainable.

Funds from a silent auction of the works will be donated to the Batzorig Foundation of Documentary Photography in Mongolia, which was named in honour of Tsevegmid Batzorig, a pioneer Mongolian photographer who met an untimely death in the course of his documentary work in 2001.

The money raised will fund a photo-documentary project in Mongolia chosen by the Foundation.

Galea is a member of the Centre for Communication, Politics and Culture.

The exhibition is in partnership with Magnet Gallery, and will run from 8 July to 23 July 2016. More details on the event page. 

Story: Rilke Muir