Juli Balla to launch photograhic series tonight, Wed October 30th at Black Eye Gallery in Sydney

Persona Non Grata, a photographic series by Sydney-based photographer Juli Balla, will launch at Black Eye Gallery, 3/138 Darlinghurst Road tonight, Wednesday 30th October.

Part still life, part character study, the series is stunning in its comedic concept and impeccable technical execution.

Balla has created “personas without faces” allowing people to judge a book by its cover. The series of characters defined only by their hair, accessory and a one-line statement create a sense of who they are, their status, their life’s work or their obsessions.

The work is a collaboration between Balla and hair stylist Kenneth Stoddart, who made bespoke wigs for each of the characters conceived by Balla.

Says Balla: “in this work I am investigating how little is needed to define individuals and the shifting concept of personal identity… I have removed the human element and let the outward accouterments speak for themselves.”

Hungarian born, Balla has been based in Australia since 1980 and has exhibited extensively

since 1986. She is best known as a high-end commercial photographer specialising in beauty

and advertising campaigns with a fashion edge. She is represented in Australia, Milan and

Shanghai.

The exhibition runs from Tuesday 29th October to Sunday 10th November. Respected art critic, broadcaster and writer Dr Andrew Frost will open the exhibition at the launch on the 30th.

Limited edition post-card sets are available from Black Eye Gallery.