Ingeborg Tyssen (1945 - 2002) was one of Australia's leading photographers. This display of works, drawn from the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, pays homage to her as a major figure in Australian photographic history.

Born in Holland, Tyssen arrived in Australia with her mother at the age of twelve. It was not until the mid-1970s, after years spent working and travelling, that Tyssen became seriously involved with photography. Her early photographs highlight the overwhelming sense of isolation often experienced in contemporary urban life.

Tyssen studied extensively, completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Photography in 1982 and later a Masters of Arts in History, Philosophy and Politics. She exhibited widely, including solo exhibitions at Artspace, Sydney (1993), Cit� Internationale des Arts, Paris (1994) and a major survey exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1995. Her work was also included in numerous group exhibitions both in Australia and abroad.

The most interesting aspect of photography, Tyssen said, is "its subjective nature and illusion of reality ... questions it poses about reality itself, representation and perception".

IMAGE: Ingeborg Tyssen
Untitled no. 1 from The Voice of Silence series 1991-1992
© Estate of the artist, Viscopy Ltd, Sydney
Purchased with funds provided by J. S. Watkins Memorial Fund 1993