Myth Memory and the 1/4 Acre Block

BACKGROUND Under the titles of Memory, Myth and the ¼ Acre Block, this exhibition curated together several series of work. The works of Gregory Crewdson, Jeff Wall and Tom Hunter are important in positioning much of this research. While Kozka acknowledges their practices, his research aim differs in his wish to explore specifically the reconstruction of memory and remembered moments which we see evolve over the works, produced between 2008 and 2011. Although, for example, the work of Tom Hunter explores cultural identity through recreation and restaging of events in a similar way, he is not as interested in the perspective of memory. CONTRIBUTION This was a large-scale exhibition of 51 pieces, over three of four galleries at the Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney. The majority of the works had not been shown before. Kozka investigates how memory, staging and re-constructions inform how we create identity on both a personal level and a cultural level. He is interested in how personal history defines who we are, and how that defines us culturally. This exhibition also included Kozka's Home series, which explored notions of homelessness and how that can be portrayed through reconstruction. SIGNIFICANCE Some of the individual pieces in the exhibition at ACP - one of Australia's longest running and most prestigious contemporary art spaces - have been recognised in national and international awards, including Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Substation Art Prize, National Portrait Prize (Australia), National Portrait Prize (UK), W&W Bowness Award (MGA), Albury Art Prize, National Photographic Award (Albury Gallery), Arte Laguna Art Prize (Italy), Arts Hub Award for Innovation, and Hasselblad Masters Award. Time Out Sydney described the show experience: "As with the work of the great masters, there's an incredible depth and richness to his meticulously constructed and eerily lit tableaux."