Aussie Up: Narelle Autio

Narelle Autio, whose partner is Trent Parke, the only Australian member of Magnum Photos, is also a photographer who has in recent years established a strong set of aesthetic and thematic concerns. In much of her work, she examines the Australian relationship to water (Anna, here is another artist working with underwater photography you should check out!).

These are from her series 'Murray Cod':

Narelle Autio, Swimming Cod, 2006

Narelle Autio, Trophy, 2006

Narelle Autio, Tocumwal, 2006

Narelle Autio, The Big Cod, 2006

If that giant fish looks weird to you, this kind of thing is a widespread phenomenon in Australia. Towns compete to outdo each other with 'Big Things' that represent their local industries and points of pride, ranging from the Big Pineapple to the Giant Ram, to the Big Tennis Racquet (yes, that's how you spell it). You can check out more of these here or on the ever-reliable Wikipedia.

Narelle Autio is represented by Stills Gallery in Sydney. You can see more of her work here. Do it.