Zina Sofer, a graduate from RMIT University, is the winner of the 2023 Ballarat International Foto Biennale GradFoto Award and will receive the GradFoto 2023 prize of $1,000.
Two images from Zina Sofer’s winning portfolio, ‘Out of the Shadows: The Forgotten History of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia, 2023’, which pays tribute to the War Widows’ Guild of Australia. © Zina Sofer.
The winning portfolio, Out of the Shadows: The Forgotten History of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia, 2023, celebrates the work done by the War Widows’ Guild of Australia which, in its heyday was involved in advocacy, education, support, counselling, and housing for widows. The capital for purchasing real-estate and built communal housing came from the growing membership base, some funding from the government but mainly from the sales generated by the woven goods made by the women. Weaving was a lifeline, it supplemented widows’ unlivable pension, and it played one of the major roles in establishing weaving as an industry in Australia. The images in the portfolio combine photographs with weaving to illustrate the Guild’s work.
Three Highly Commended entries were also awarded to Sian Tjia Hennessey (Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne), Eddie James (University of Tasmania) and Jade Jones (RMIT University). Click here to view the 2023 online exhibition.
