Digital Catalogue: 2024 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award

Chris Budgeon

b. 1955 Red Deer Canada, lives Melbourne VIC

UNTITLED_2267, 2023

archival pigment print
edition 1/8

Image courtesy of the artist © Chris Budgeon

Artist Statement

UNTITLED_2667 is from the project Dark Waters, a visual exploration of faith and rituals that attempts to negotiate the uneasy union of the mortal and the holy.

The image resonates with the power of formative memories. An early swimming lesson tainted by the terrors of the deep. A Mississippi baptism seen in passing. Two poles of the sacred and the arcane connected by febrile imaginings of alien depths.

These visions of an uncertain hope remind us that faith is needed, but questions linger.

About the Artist

Born and raised into a Canadian military family, early life for Chris Budgeon was in constant transit. Photography eventually emerged as an artistic expression to process newly-discovered art and culture found in Europe.

That interest developed into the documentation of the punk and alternate music scenes around London, Toronto, Montreal and New York. By the early eighties, a chance opportunity to shoot in Calcutta led to the meeting of Mother Teresa, Mary Ellen Mark and film director Satyajit Ray.

The die was cast for a life in photography where those humanist influences continue to resonate throughout his photographic practice.


#More Finalists

View All

Joachim Froese

Joachim Froese

Perseverance, Sol 693, Mars, from the series Turned Towards the Firmamant

Nur Aishah Kenton

Nur Aishah Kenton

Untitled (Salam) Self-portrait with my mother, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2024

HOTA proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout South East Queensland.

Continue