THE familiar image of a fisherman holding up his catch has been reimagined by artist Jack Rodgers in his latest exhibition, Fisho, now showing at Redland Art Gallery until November 27.
Featuring 44 works, the exhibition explores the traditional “fisherman and fish” pose as more than a trophy photograph, instead examining its place in the culture, identity and vulnerability of working-class men.
Mr Rodgers launched the exhibition on September 6, saying fishing images carried powerful connections to place, particularly in coastal communities such as the Redlands and Moreton Bay.
“These sorts of images help unlock those memories,” he said.
“Fishing is universal, particularly in Queensland – and in the Redlands where people live near water day to day.”
The idea for the exhibition began during visits to his local fish market with his daughters, where a wall of photographs celebrating local catches caught his attention.
“Me and my girls go there to pick out mud crabs and while we are doing this, there is a parallel place of men with tan lines and big fish,” he said.
Drawing on State Library archives, fishing almanacs and old photographs, Mr Rodgers refined images of fishermen and their catches into expressive, colourful works.
“The original becomes abstract and takes on a new life,” he said.
“The edges soften up. We leave the original image and turn it into something else.”
While the artist’s own fishing memories include becoming bored while his father cast a line, the fascination remained.
“My memories were that I would get bored and do other creative stuff while Dad was fishing,” he said.
“I put the work into something else rather than into catching something. But the curiosity remained.
Among his favourite pieces is a vibrant snapper work in pink and orange tones – a choice influenced by both its visual appeal and taste.
“I also like eating snapper,” he said.
Friend Llewellyn Millhouse said the portraits revealed both the pride and vulnerability behind the familiar catch photograph.
“Jack makes goofy look dignified, and serious look foolish,” Mr Millhouse said.
“The moment of triumph when a fish is handled for the camera holds a special place in a working-class men’s image culture.
“It is a moment of pride and joy, but these images also contain slivers of vulnerability and intimacy.”
Fisho is showing at Redland Art Gallery until November 27.
Mr Rodgers will present a free artist talk at the gallery at 10am on October 11.
