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Freighting Ideas: How Did I Get Here?

How Did I Get Here? asks what exactly brought us to this exact place in life? What went wrong, what went right, what random acts of fate, have set us down, just so, in this place at this time?

The exhibition invites audiences to ask these questions about each work and its subjects. What forces have landed them in this moment, captured as themselves and as actors in a photographer’s drama? How did the work come to be?

Inspired by the 1980 Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime, the first touring exhibition from Art Gallery of WA for twenty years, How Did I Get Here? brings together twelve key photographic works interwoven with various complementary pieces from the local collection. Each artist takes a unique and personal perspective – sometimes photo reportage sometimes imaginative fiction ­– drawing from real life to speak about the challenges of coming of age, cultural beliefs, race and religion, and our social selves.

Regional Venue Touring Dates

13 Apr to 11 May 2019 | Katanning Gallery
20 Jul to 1 Sep | Collie Art Gallery
14 Sep to 8 Oct | Ningaloo Centre, Exmouth
18 Jan to 1 Mar 2020 | Bunbury Regional Art Galleries
14 Mar to 11 Apr | Geraldton Regional Art Gallery (cancelled due to COVID-19)
4 Jul to 9 Aug | East Pilbara Art Centre
25 Sep to 8 Nov | Carnarvon Library and Gallery

  • 25 September 2020 – 8 November 2020
  • FREE

Curated by

Robert Cook AGWA Curator of 20th Century Arts

Carnarvon Library and Gallery 10am-4pm, Monday – Thursday
Closed Friday – Sunday

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Exhibition Highlights

Petrina Hicks Jackson and Tiger 2005. Lightjet print, 85 x 80 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2014. © Petrina Hicks, 2005.

Anne Zahalka The Bathers 1989. C-type photograph, 74 x 90 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased 2013. © Anne Zahalka, 1989.

Graham Miller Kayleigh #1 2015. Pigment print, edition 1/8, 80 x 100 cm (framed). State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2016. © Graham Miller, 2015.

Tony Albert Optimism 2 2008. C-type print on paper, edition 2/5, 80 x 80 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Gift of the artist, 2009. © Tony Albert, 2008.

Michael Cook Mother (TV) 2016. Single-channel digital video, edition 1/15, 1.47 minutes. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2017. © Michael Cook, 2016.

Toni Wilkinson Uncertain surrenders #9 2007. Inkjet print, edition 1/5, 143.7 x 112 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2010. © Toni Wilkinson, 2007.

David Rosetzky Justine 2000. Digital video, five minutes, 25 seconds. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased 2003. © David Rosetzky, 2000.

Graham Miller Rhonda + Chantelle 2007. Digital photographic print, edition 6/6, 91.1 x 112.1 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2009. © Graham Miller, 2007.

Tony Albert Optimism 1 2008. Digital photographic print, edition 2/5, 80 x 80 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Gift of the Artist, 2009. © Tony Albert, 2008.

Toni Wilkinson Uncertain surrenders #17 2009. Digital photographic print, edition 1/5, 143.5 x 112 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2010. © Toni Wilkinson, 2009.

Anne Zahalka The Women 1989. C-type photographic print, edition 10/20, 59.5 x 69.8 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Gift of the Artist under the Commonwealth Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2013. © Anne Zahalka, 1989.

Graham Miller Cowboys 2009. Digital photographic print, edition 1/8, 60 x 75 cm. State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia. Purchased through the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation: TomorrowFund, 2016. © Graham Miller, 2009.

About Freighting Ideas

This collaborative touring model challenges traditional touring processes and aims to develop genuine relationships, meaningful encounters, community connections and the contribution of many different voices.

ART ON THE MOVE and the Art Gallery of WA have come together for the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost (RETB), funded by the State Government, to develop a new WA regional touring program called Freighting Ideas.

Famous Sharron’s Guide to Famous (and Not So Famous) Art

Famous Sharron, Freighting Ideas Audience Ambassador on “Why Should I Art?”


This is an ART ON THE MOVE and Art Gallery of WA touring program developed as part of Freighting Ideas project. This project has been made possible through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost managed by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries, supported by Royalties for Regions and delivered in partnership by ART ON THE MOVE and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Kedela wer kalyakoorl ngalak Wadjak boodjak yaak.

Today and always, we stand on the traditional land of the Whadjuk Noongar people.