Persons of Interest is a portrait series of fourteen actors in over thirty-one candid mugshots, inspired by Sydney's infamous criminal era of the 1920's. Known to police as 'Special' photographs, these bosses, bruisers, plotters and petty crims were captured with raw personality as they stare down the lens and into history. Exhibited and published in the Museums of History NSW, “Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties”, at the Museum of Sydney (2017, 2018) and finalist in Head On Photo Festival at Sydney Town Hall (2017). Persons of Interest diffuses the celebrity of actors and exposes their intrinsic craft. Viewers recognise the value of a powerful story, evoking the past while persuading us to step into a modern world where the shadow side of celebrity is revealed. Is there not a correlation between the actor and the infamous criminal seeking fame? The actors in Persons of Interest have submitted to a process that places their métier before their fame, but for many the desire to be acclaimed is too alluring. Photographed within an inch of their lives, it’s hard to escape imprisonment. Interview, documentary and behind the scenes by Museums of History NSW.

Featuring

Susie Porter
Tony Llewellyn-Jones
Zoe Carides
Umbilical Brothers - David Collins & Shane Dundas
Saskia Burmeister
Rhys Muldoon
Anna Lise Phillips
Steve Rodgers
Damon Gameau
Nicole da Silva
Vanessa Downing
Genevieve Mooy
Olivia Stambouliah

Exhibited

Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Albury Library Museum 2022
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Hinkler Hall of Aviation Queensland 2022
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, National Archives of Australia, Canberra 2021
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Port Arthur Historic Site Visitor Centre, Tasmania 2021
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, National Museum of Australia, Canberra 2021
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Melbourne Museum 2020, 2021
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo 2020
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Orange Regional Museum 2019
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Leeton Shire Council 2019
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Newcastle Museum 2019
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, The Workshop Railway Museum, Queensland 2018, 2019
Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties, Museum of Sydney 2017, 2018
Head On Photo Festival, Sydney Town Hall 2017
Luke Stambouliah, Galleryeight, Sydney 2010, 2011
COFA Annual, Carriageworks, Sydney 2010

Literature

Veronica Kooyman, ‘How The Specials Inspired Photographer Luke Stambouliah.’ Museums of History NSW, 6th April 2018 https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/focus-how-specials-inspired-photographer-luke-stambouliah/
Nerida Campbell with Lucy Sante and Alistair Sooke, ‘Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties.’ Sydney Living Museums, 2017, p. 13-18, 284
Professor Katherine Biber, ‘Dark Archive: The Afterlife of Forensic Photographs.’ University of Technology Sydney, 2017, p. 13, 20
Danielle Buckley, ‘Luke Stambouliah’s latest exhibition is so good, it’s criminal.’ The Daily Telegraph, 2nd May 2017 https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-express/luke-stambouliahs-persons-of-interest-to-feature-in-sydneys-head-on-photo-festival/news-story/9726a8c82011f9775ffa251b727ad9e8Elizabeth Fortescue, ‘Aussie stars like you’ve never seen them before.’ The Daily Telegraph, 30th April 2017 https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/arts/aussie-stars-like-youve-never-seen-them-before/news-story/d95ad3c074ffc39f53fc272e5f55f573?amp
Nick Bond, ‘Shining a light on the underworld.’ Sydney Star Observer, 2010, p. 24‘Persons of Interest.’ Galleryeight, 2010, cover + p. 1-28

Awards

Head On Photo Festival, Sydney 2017 finalist
Honour Awards, Cayte Latta Memorial Award for Visual Arts, Sydney 2016 finalist

Details

Published by Galleryeight, Sydney 2010
Large Softcover Photographic Book
First Edition
Signed by the Artist
Cover image: Susie Porter
22 x 28 cm
28 pages including:
13 exhibited prints, character biographies and artist's statement