As Modern as Tomorrow - photographers in postwar Melbourne

A companion to the State Library of Victoria's 'As modern as tomorrow' exhibition. Includes images held in our Pictures Collection and links to external sites. Explores individual photographers and photographic styles.

Fashion illustration

Model Bambi   Model (Patricia Tuckwell) Bambi Shmith, Athol Shmith, ca 1968 - ca 1969
 

More on:

Theatre portraits

 

Tivoli portraits, Helmut Newton, ca. 1953-ca. 1957, H83.443/15  The World Famous "Folies Bergere" Revue - Sonya Corbeau H83.443/13

Try these links:

Ballet performance, Norman Ikin, 1956, H2006.1/4

As Modern as Tomorrow

As modern as tomorrow: photographers in postwar Melbourne showcased striking commercial photography from the Library's collection.

Displayed with the corporate and advertising material in which they originally appeared, the photographs provided unique insights into the changing social fabric of mid-20th-century Melbourne.

Featured photographers included Maggie Diaz, Norman Ikin, Helmut Newton, Athol Shmith, Wolfgang Sievers, Mark Strizic, Dacre Stubbs and Henry Talbot.

Working in fields as varied as fashion, advertising, architectural and industrial photography, the talented group of commercial photographers had an eye for capturing images unlike anything Australia had ever seen.

The exhibition was held from 1 July 2011 to 5 February 2012.

Large industrial metal tube

Craven Print & Paper, Moorabbin, Wolfgang.Sievers (1984). H2004.49/206

Photographers of interest