Ponch Hawkes facts for kids
Ponch Hawkes (born 1946) is an Australian photographer. Her work explores how people relate to each other, different identities, and rights for all people. She also photographs women's bodies, what it means to be a man, and women at work. Her photos capture important moments in Australia's history and culture.
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Early Life and Learning
Ponch Hawkes was born in Abbotsford, Victoria, in 1946. She went to University High School. She learned photography by herself and never went to a special photography school. In the early 1970s, after living in the United States, Hawkes came back to Australia. She was working as a journalist for a magazine called The Digger. She started taking photos to make her articles better.
Her Photography Work
Ponch Hawkes' photos have been shown in big Australian art shows. These include Melbourne Now (2013) at the National Gallery of Victoria and Know My Name (2021/22) at the National Gallery of Australia. Her work is kept in many important places. These include the National Gallery of Victoria, National Gallery of Australia, and State Library of Victoria.
Hawkes has also worked with theatre groups like Pram Factory and Circus Oz. In the 1970s, she was the first person to manage the Women's Theatre Group.
Her photography covers many different subjects. She photographs artists, people who support women's rights, sports stars, and public figures. She also takes natural photos of people on the street. Her photos are often shown in groups or series. The people in her photos are often asked to be part of the photo-making process. This way, Hawkes shows how people use their bodies and how they connect with each other.
One of her first photo projects was in 1976. It was called Our Mums and Us. It showed her female friends and their mothers, including the writer Helen Garner. More recently, she has explored images of older women. For example, her big project 500 strong (2021) helps older women feel proud of their bodies. It shows older women in a normal and strong way.
Another fun project is Changing Faces: Reframing Women in Local Democracy (2020). This work looks at why there are not enough women in politics. It shows 171 local women wearing fake moustaches and beards. This challenges old ideas about gender. Ponch Hawkes' long career is seen as a very important part of the Australian movement for women's art.
Exhibitions and Shows
Solo Exhibitions
These are shows where only Ponch Hawkes' work was displayed.
- 500 Strong, Geelong Art Gallery, Shepparton Art Museum, 2022
- Changing Faces, Bayside City Council Chambers, Melbourne, 2020
- Our Mums and Us and These Women have Just Run 26 Miles, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne, Australia, 2013
- Generations, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1989
- Our Mums and Us, Brummels Gallery, Melbourne 1976
Group Exhibitions
These are shows where Ponch Hawkes' work was displayed alongside other artists.
- Flesh After Fifty, Changing Images of Older Women in Art, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne, Australia, 2021
- Photography Meets Feminism: Australian women photographers 1970s–80s, A Monash Gallery of Art travelling exhibition, 2014–2015
- Melbourne Now National Gallery of Victoria, 2013–2014
- Timelines, National Gallery of Victoria, 2011
- Shades of Light – Photography and Australia 1839 to 1988, Australian National Gallery, 1988
- Living in the Seventies, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1986
- Eight Woman Photographers, Monash University Gallery, Melbourne, 1981
- Woman Photographers, Pram Factory, Melbourne, 1976
