Sense The Music | Ruth Medjber and Maclay Heriot

Each year the ACP facilitates an opportunity for two artists - an Australian and an international artist – to discuss their creative practice, experiences and inspirations. In early February 2020, Sydney-based photographer Maclay Heriot began corresponding with Ruth Medjber in Dublin, Ireland. Their initial conversations focussed on how to communicate the energy of live music events visually. As professional photographers they had been commissioned to tour with bands, such as Portugal. The Man and Arcade Fire, as well as shoot on stage at the world’s largest music festivals, like Coachella (USA) and Glastonbury (UK).

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By March, the Covid-19 pandemic had spread across the world and one by one countries were going into lockdown. Overnight, the live entertainment industry went into hibernation with the possibility of no global music tours for several years. Faced with this uncertain future, Ruth and Maclay were confronted with reinventing their careers. There was also a deepening of their conversations. Supporting each other, they shared a greater appreciation for their ‘music families’.

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For both, the works selected for Sense the music are powerful mnemonics, or memory triggers. From images of musicians in amongst their fans, to candid shots behind the scenes and studio portraits – each frame reveals the intensity of a moment and music’s capacity to connect us.

This exhibition was kindly supported by the Government of Ireland through the Consulate General of Ireland in New South Wales.

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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ruth Medjber

Dublin-born Ruth Medjber was encouraged by her father to take photographs from a young age. From her early teens, the artist paired this obsession with her love of alternate rock bands, such as Placebo and Manic Street Preachers. While in her honours year of a Bachelor of Arts (Photography) at Dublin Institute of Technology, Medjber regularly contributed to Hot Press magazine and subsequently NME, Rolling Stone, Kerrang! and Classic Rock. Medjber’s portfolio includes portraits of Grace Jones, Metallica and the Foo fighters. Most recently, she documented Hozier and Arcade Fire on their world tours, as well as covering the Glastonbury Festival for the BBC. With close ties to her community, the artist uses her creative talent to support Direct Provision Ireland and has a long-term project Women of Notes, which celebrates inspiring women in the Irish music industry.

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Maclay Heriot

Photographer, filmmaker and visual artist Maclay Heriot grew up in Wollongong. Aged five, he took his first photograph of the family at the beach using his father’s SLR camera. Growing up he was surrounded by music, playing the guitar during his teen years and regularly watching his uncle Rockin’ Russ Heriot gig at the Headlands Hotel. Starting out shooting photographs from the audience of Australia’s Big Day Out Festival, Heriot quickly moved to being on stage at Lollapalooza and Coachella. Over the past five years he has been working between Sydney and Los Angeles building a comprehensive portfolio featuring Portugal. The Man. With his Hasselblad, favourite Leica or Super 8 movie camera in hand he has captured Jagwar Ma, Green Buzzard, Peking Duck and Bully.

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ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

For forty-five years the Australian Centre for Photography (ACP) has been the leading advocate for photography and photo media. It supports and promotes contemporary artists, educates audiences and students of photography, and inspires conversations through lens-based creative practices.

The ACP showcases exciting contemporary lens-based media from Australia and overseas, in an agile and site-responsive program of exhibitions and public forums. The ACP’s national and international touring program consists of ACP-curated exhibitions travelling to museums and galleries in regional Australia and overseas.

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