The photography of empty lands: Tasmanian history in the art of Ricky Maynard and Anne Ferran

Contemporary art can effectively address traumatic histories by photographing absences, revealing ongoing historical presence. This study analyzes the work of Australian artists Ricky Maynard and Anne Ferran, who document forgotten Tasmanian colonial sites through evocative landscapes. Maynard focuses on the Black War between Aboriginal people and European colonists, while Ferran explores female convict factories. Their photographs create critical dialogues about complex histories without explicit declarations, challenging traditional roles of photography in capturing proof. By examining two artworks in one region, the research provides new perspectives on Australia's colonial legacy, including the entwinement of convict and Aboriginal histories, and offers alternative approaches to memorializing and addressing colonial pasts.

Neath, J. C. (2017). The photography of empty lands: Tasmanian history in the art of Ricky Maynard and Anne Ferran. Monash University. https://doi.org/10.4225/03/58AE5605A6EE1