Kempken has drawn on historical photographs—more specifically, group portraits of children taken in Carlton in the early part of the 20th century—to create this fascinating work.

Using only black and white on mostly transparent screens, contemporary images are sliced into these historical photographs and new images are created. The figures of children past and present collide. Side by side, these children have been, and will be, our future.

Ralf Kempken completed a Diploma of Visual Art at RMIT in 2004 and has been exhibiting continually since then. He was the winner of the Australian Stencil Art Prize for two consecutive years—in 2012 and 2013—and his work has been acquired by the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery for their permanent collection, as part of the National Works on Paper Award.

The Light Box Program is one of a number of public art initiatives whereby Council brings art into the everyday; we curate an exhibition program at Fitzroy, Carlton and Richmond libraries. We also have an exciting program at Council’s newest facility, Bargoonga Nganjin.

Yarra may not yet have a dedicated civic gallery, but we are finding new and creative ways for you to enjoy and interact with great art.