Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis

Ponch Hawkes—500 Strong, installation view, Geelong Gallery, 2022
© Ponch Hawkes, photographer: Andrew Curtis


500 Strong


 

Ponch Hawkes
born Australia, 1946

500 Strong 2019-20
digital prints on cotton rag paper
Courtesy of the artist
 © Ponch Hawkes

In 2018 renowned Australian photographer Ponch Hawkes embarked on an epic project to photograph 500 Victorian women. Calling on women from across the State, over the age of 50, and from all backgrounds, 432 volunteered to be photographed in the nude to celebrate the diversity and reality of older women’s bodies.

Photoshoots were organised in Melbourne at Ponch’s studio and at both Shepparton Art Museum and Geelong Gallery. Participants were encouraged to consider their anonymity and come prepared with a personalised face covering. Some women chose to show their faces. The studio space was set up to provide a supportive and private environment for participants to have their portrait taken in the nude.

500 Strong was an engaging and empowering outreach project that became a major feature in the exhibition Flesh after Fifty: changing images of older women in art that was presented at Abbotsford Convent in March 2021.

Ponch and Jane Scott – curator and chief welcomer on this project – wish to extend thanks to the women who took up the idea and modelled for this project. During their participation, each woman offered their insights, enthusiasm, and wisdom to help challenge. Stereotypes and create new bonds for all of us. Shepparton Art Museum and Geelong Gallery were delighted to provide studio space and support for the regional photoshoots. Ponch in particular would like to thank Jodie Hutchinson, her colleague who assisted on every shoot, Lucy Hawkes for post-production and David Johns, master printer. Thanks also to Jenni Meany, Heather Guilfoyle, Sue Broadway, Bobbie Hodge, Cliff Burtt and Ian Bracegirdle.