The Legends Global managed Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), has announced it will retain the compelling All Shades photographic exhibition by Kamilaroi documentary photographer and filmmaker Dean Saffron, to mark the Centre’s 30-year anniversary.
The body of work represents an extraordinary collaboration between Dean Saffron and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland and the Torres Strait.
Saffron travelled thousands of kilometres to capture these stories, recording oral histories and creating a visual archive that will be preserved for the future.
Commissioned by State Library Queensland, the portraits are part of a broader initiative to create a lasting archive for future generations.
BCEC Advocate and Executive Director, First Nations at the Queensland Museum, Dr Bianca Beetson said the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre’s (BCEC) decision to retain Dean Saffron’s All Shades exhibition as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations highlights the Centre’s dedication to celebrating the cultural diversity and exceptional talent of Australian artists.
“This remarkable exhibition enriches BCEC’s outstanding art collection, which already includes over 60 works by prominent First Nations and contemporary Australian artists, and further cements the Centre’s role as a cultural hub that honours creativity, diversity, and the shared stories that bring us together.” Highlights of the collection include treasures from Papunya in the Northern Territory – widely considered the birthplace of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement in the late 1970s, originally commissioned for Expo ’88 and today regarded as one of the greatest holdings of Central Desert Art in the world.
The Centre’s collection of Indigenous artworks also includes Ingredients to Wealth (2022-2023) a painting by Yuggera – Biri artist Jody Rallah, commissioned as part of the BCEC’s first Reconciliation Action Plan.
BCEC First Nations Advisor, Aunty Bridget Garay welcomed the announcement that the All Shades exhibition would be on permanent display and accessible to the venue’s many visitors.
“It is wonderful to have a true showcase of the diversity of our people and our communities. I love that Dean Saffron has empowered our people to choose how they wish to be photographed in their communities.”
Long-time friend of BCEC, Dean Saffron’s work is celebrated for its emotional honesty and global reach. He has produced humanitarian photo essays for UNICEF and the World Food Program with this latest exhibition also appearing in the Australian Financial Review.
The series is currently displayed across the Arbour and Plaza levels of the Centre accessible to thousands of local, interstate and international delegates attending events during the venue’s busy conference season.
Dean Saffron says, “It’s an incredible honour to have All Shades become a permanent part of the BCEC’s collection. This exhibition is about pride, dignity and the strength of First Nations communities. I hope it sparks conversations that bring us closer together, reminding us that at our core, we are all human. Photography has the power to connect people, and I’m proud that these stories will continue to be seen, shared and celebrated in such a meaningful space.”
BCEC General Manager, Kym Guesdon said the addition of Saffron’s work reflects the Centre’s ongoing commitment to showcasing the work of First Nations Artists, as a venue which itself stands on a significant meeting place for Traditional Owners.
“Our priority is to make the collection accessible to visitors and members of the public alike, and for the Centre to be a meaningful place, a catalyst for conversation for the wider community as well as for convention delegates and event attendees.”
