Max Dupain on assignment

A travelling exhibition from the National Archives in Canberra, Max Dupain on assignment, features many photographs that have never been seen before.

Now famous for his artistic photographs, over the years Dupain also used his camera to earn a living, working for Commonwealth government departments and companies such as CSR Limited.

Dupain was commissioned by various departments to take photographs of Australian life in the 1940s, 50s and 60s which were used to promote Australia overseas.

During that time Dupain created some of his most imaginative works. A selection can be seen in the exhibition. They include corporate and advertising shots, as well as images of life on the canefields.

The exhibition features eye‑catching examples from the National Archives’ collection of images taken for government departments, along with photographs from the Noel Butlin Archives Centre at the Australian National University which he took for CSR Limited.

Dupain’s industrial images are particularly striking. One shows a storage area of stacked metals where his abstract technique has used the contrast of light and shadow to create visual patterns in close‑ups.

His architectural photographs are also strong. Dupain worked closely with Jorn Utzon to document the creation of the Sydney Opera House.

Max Dupain on assignment has been touring museums throughout Australia since 2008.

Current and future locations are: Western Australian Museum, Albany (until 23 September 2012), Western Australian Museum, Geraldton (19 October 2012 until 6 January 2013), Western Australian Museum, Kalgoorlie (18 January to 31 March 2013), Western Australian Museum, Wanneroo (6 April to 12 May 2013), and Liverpool City Library, Liverpool NSW (28 May to 12 September 2013).

Tour schedule