Mervyn Bishop

Mervyn Bishop is a photojournalist / freelance Photographer. He has been documenting social issues in Australia for over forty years. As an indigenous Australian, he brings a unique, intimate perspective to the documentation of life, especially Aboriginal, in Australia. He is particularly interested in photographing the elders (within his community) because once they’re gone, that’s it, both in city and tribal areas, including the more populous urban regions of coastal Australia. These photographs display a personal perspective that is both affectionate and non-judgemental. 

Biography

Born in Brewarrina, a regional town of north-west NSW, Australia, Mervyn Bishop began his career as a photographer at the Sydney Morning Herald, followed by several years working for the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs. He has exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW and the Australian Centre for Photography and his works are held in numerous private collections. Recent projects with Elders have been developed with the Australian Museum (2012) & Bankstown Arts Centre (2013).

Recent exhibitions

2008	Half Light: Portraits from Black Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2010	Candid Camera: Australian Photography 1950s–1970s, Art Gallery of South Australia
2012	Sydney Elders, Australian Museum
2013	Our Elders: Photographic Portraits iof Bankstown Aboriginal Elders, Bankstown Arts Centre