Atong Atem
Most of what I'm trying to convey is the deep joy I feel in living my culture day to day.
Atong Atem (1994) is an Ethiopian born, South Sudanese artist and writer living in Narrm/ Melbourne. Atem’s work explores the inherent intimacy of portraiture and photography as well as the role photographers take as story tellers, interrogating photography as a framework for looking at the world and positioning people in it. Atem references the works of 20th century African studio photographers Malick Sidibe, Philip Kwame Apagya and Seydou Keita to create a visual representation of a relationship to culture. She works primarily with photography, video and textiles to explore migrant narratives and postcolonial practices in the African diaspora, the relationship between public and private spaces and the exploration of home and identity through portraiture.
