Bill Henson: Biography of a Photographer
Bill Henson
Bill Henson was born in 1955 and grew up in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. He studied Design and Visual Arts at Prahran College of Advanced Education where the head of photography was Athol Shmith, with additional inspiring lectures from John Cato and Paul Cox. Henson did not complete his diploma and only studied for one year. The prominent photographer Athol Shmith recommended Henson to Jenny Boddington (I believe Charlie’s Nana) who was the new curator of photography at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The result was that he had his first solo exhibition that year. It is evident to see that his work is strongly influenced by the great masters of strong contrast like Caravaggio, Jan Vermeer with his ‘windows of light’, moving thought the centauries to photographer O.Winston Linkand who illuminated scenes with theatrical lighting. Henson was also influenced by twentieth centaury cinema (1940s/50s), as well as more contemporary Silence of the Lambs, depicting cinematic influences in his work. Henson’s artwork is often referred to as film noir. He delves into the constant themes of adolescence, night and day, male and female and civilization and nature, creating very dreamlike/surreal atmospheres. "Henson 's elegant, formal photographs of battered landscapes and fragile, wispy youths resemble nothing so much as Flemish still-lifes; rarely has colour photography captured so profoundly the furry texture of night time." The New Yorker, 2004
Bill Henson
Untitled #125, 2000/2003
LMO SH163 N15A type C photograph
127 × 180cm
Edition of 5 + 2 A/Ps
This photograph displays a child or adolescent female who is shown to be lolling in mid air, defying gravity with limbs dangling. In the background are specs of illuminated rhythmic orange, red and yellow, suburban house lights, appearing as fields of glowing flowers. The young adolescent woman displays mishaps - bruises and an unkempt nightgown or males single, which fashions a concerned
Bill Henson was born in 1955 and grew up in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. He studied Design and Visual Arts at Prahran College of Advanced Education where the head of photography was Athol Shmith, with additional inspiring lectures from John Cato and Paul Cox. Henson did not complete his diploma and only studied for one year. The prominent photographer Athol Shmith recommended Henson to Jenny Boddington (I believe Charlie’s Nana) who was the new curator of photography at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The result was that he had his first solo exhibition that year. It is evident to see that his work is strongly influenced by the great masters of strong contrast like Caravaggio, Jan Vermeer with his ‘windows of light’, moving thought the centauries to photographer O.Winston Linkand who illuminated scenes with theatrical lighting. Henson was also influenced by twentieth centaury cinema (1940s/50s), as well as more contemporary Silence of the Lambs, depicting cinematic influences in his work. Henson’s artwork is often referred to as film noir. He delves into the constant themes of adolescence, night and day, male and female and civilization and nature, creating very dreamlike/surreal atmospheres. "Henson 's elegant, formal photographs of battered landscapes and fragile, wispy youths resemble nothing so much as Flemish still-lifes; rarely has colour photography captured so profoundly the furry texture of night time." The New Yorker, 2004
Bill Henson
Untitled #125, 2000/2003
LMO SH163 N15A type C photograph
127 × 180cm
Edition of 5 + 2 A/Ps
This photograph displays a child or adolescent female who is shown to be lolling in mid air, defying gravity with limbs dangling. In the background are specs of illuminated rhythmic orange, red and yellow, suburban house lights, appearing as fields of glowing flowers. The young adolescent woman displays mishaps - bruises and an unkempt nightgown or males single, which fashions a concerned
Bibliography: . 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: Bendigo Art Gallery – Teachers Notes – Bill Henson http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=bill%20henson%20influences&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bendigoartgallery.com.au%2Ffiles%2F7b3ce4ec-87f5-4317-9228-a15000babfa4%2FBill_Henson_education_guide.pdf&ei=uqqNUeWwOuaSiQfDmoCwDA&usg=AFQjCNEJfWUn8wTHGEaUKVRshoGPgSh-fg&bvm=bv.46340616,d.aGc. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. Review: Bill Henson at Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne | Art Blart. 2013. Review: Bill Henson at Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne | Art Blart. [ONLINE] Available at: http://artblart.com/2011/04/17/review-bill-henson-at-tolarno-galleries-melbourne/. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. Bill Henson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Bill Henson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Henson. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. Bill Henson: Dreamscapes. 2013. Bill Henson: Dreamscapes. [ONLINE] Available at: http://sgp1.paddington.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/art_profiles/article_1703.asp. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. . 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://artblart.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/bill-henson-untitled-125-2000-03.jpg?w=655. [Accessed 11 May 2013]. Year 11 Essay Appraising Task: Bill Henson Essay. 2013. Year 11 Essay Appraising Task: Bill Henson Essay. [ONLINE] Available at: http://sthessayebrealeyvisual.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/bill-henson-essay.html. [Accessed 19 May 2013]. . 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/07/10/1226421/781564-bill-henson.jpg. [Accessed 19 May 2013].