Zahn Pithers: Photographer
The iconic Australia Street runs from Newtown to Camperdown, straight through the heart of Sydney’s Inner West. It is also commercial photographer Zahn Pithers’ stomping ground, one he is paying homage to in his portrait project Australia Street – Portraits From The Inner West.
“I have been a photographer for 18 years,” he explains, “but in the back of my head I always wanted to do a personal project. I was renovating my house and I had a really beautiful floor and I wanted to shoot a portrait on it. I decided to ask someone on my street, Australia Street. I really loved it, so I asked another person to [pose for a portrait]. Before I knew it people were suggesting other subjects. All of a sudden I was shooting these really interesting people, all from within 150 metres of where I live.”
The project has been the culmination of over 18 months of hard work, making it a real passion project for Pithers. “I started in February last year and I would set a day aside each week where I would at least do one,” he says. “It was basically whenever I could fit it in because I have two kids as well. I would have to pull the whole lounge room apart to set up for the shoot. It was pretty labour intensive, but once I started and saw the results and reactions from other people, it’s something that really took on a life of its own. I couldn’t stop.
“I knew I wanted to have an exhibition but I didn’t know in what capacity,” he says. “Someone mentioned that the Sydney Fringe Festival supports independent artists and helps them find a venue for their work.” Pithers laughs. “You could paint your toenail and put it up on a wall and they’re guaranteed to show it.”
For anyone who lives in – or even has an appreciation for – the Inner West, it isn’t surprising that artists and photographers such as Pithers draw inspiration from it. There’s nothing quite like the area. “I wanted to do a portrait series for years but I never nailed down the look,” Pithers explains. “Someone suggested doing something like Humans of New York but in Newtown, but someone was already doing that.
“I think there’s an energy in the Inner West that nowhere else has, really. Bondi has it, but it seems a little more transient there because of the tourists. The Inner West is really soulful, and there’s just an energy and passion for the area. That’s where the project really sprung from: people just love the area.”
The exhibition itself, as well as the opening, will have an art trail aspect to it, fitting perfectly with the theme of the series. If you’re going to experience some of the residents of Newtown, why not also experience the area simultaneously? It doesn’t just end with the portraits.
“I’m having a private showing at home with all of the people from the series and then I’m having the street exhibition,” Pithers says. “I’m hoping to get everyone local to come up for the opening night where you’ve got Young Henry’s, Black Star Pastries and Continental Deli all getting involved.
“It’s all fitting and it’s all seeming to work,” he continues. “It’s very [local]. The piece is called Australia Street, all the people in it are from here, all of the prints were done by a guy on Australia Street… Even the book I got made was done in Chippendale. It’s just so local.” He laughs, a sound of pure contentment. “It’s like when you eat food that is grown locally – you get that warm fuzzy feeling because it’s from your own backyard.”
Australia Street – Portraits From The Inner WestbyZahn PithersshowsSaturday September 10 – Friday September 30 at various venues across Australia Street, Newtown,as part ofSydney Fringe Festival 2016.
