Naomi Hobson, Southern Kaantju/Umpila people, Queensland, born 1978, Coen, Queensland, Road Play “She told Mum she was taking me for a ride down the road but she not.” Laine., from the series Adolescent Wonderland, 2019, Coen, Queensland, digital print on paper, 81.0 x 110.0 cm; Courtesy the artist and Redot Fine Art Gallery, © Naomi Hobson/Redot Fine Art Gallery.
Naomi Hobson, Southern Kaantju/Umpila people, Queensland, born Coen, Queensland 1978, Daley’s Bike “Ms.Daley, the kindergarten teacher has a flash black bike, it’s them olden-style one. Every time I drop Erica off at kindy, I always check it out.” Kayla. from the series Adolescent Wonderland, 2019, Coen, Queensland, digital print on paper, 81.0 x 110.0 cm, © Naomi Hobson/Redot Fine Art Gallery.
Naomi Hobson, Southern Kaantju/Umpila people, Queensland, born Coen, Queensland 1978, OMG! “OMG! This is actually heavier than it looks!” Alaina. from the series Adolescent Wonderland, 2019, Coen, Queensland, digital print on paper, 81.0 x 110.0 cm, © Naomi Hobson/Redot Fine Art Gallery.
Naomi Hobson, Southern Kaantju/Umpila people, Queensland, born Coen, Queensland 1978, Rainbow Twins “Donna brought us these wigs, I wanted one first and then Lexcine wanted one, she always trying to copy me, aye Lexcine.” Ada. “No Ada, you always copying me.” Lexcine. from the series Adolescent Wonderland (Revisited), 2020, Coen, Queensland, digital print on paper, 81.0 x 110.0 cm, © Naomi Hobson/Redot Fine Art Gallery.
Naomi Hobson, Southern Kaantju/Umpila people, Queensland, born Coen, Queensland 1978, Easter Man “Easter was last week man…!” Dylan. from the series Adolescent Wonderland (Revisited), 2020, Coen, Queensland digital print on paper, 81.0 x 110.0 cm, © Naomi Hobson/Redot Fine Art Gallery.
Naomi Hobson, Adolescent Wonderland, installation view at Cement Fondu, 2022.
For Adolescent Wonderland, Naomi Hobson has turned her camera lens on the youth of Coen, a tiny town on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. This loving, celebratory gaze, first shown for Tarnanthi 2021 and now touring, explores the colourful way of life for young people in a remote community: their interests, their relationships, their challenges and their joys.
“I wanted to give a voice to my young people so that the world can see them: their energy, vibrancy and sense of humour,” says Hobson, a southern Kaantju/Umpila photographer based in Coen, a town of 360 people. “They are the light of our community and even though they live remotely, they’re totally engaged in this new world with their style—their individuality is ever-present, as is their Indigenous heritage. It’s such a unique lifestyle.”
The photos have an immersive quality to them. The viewer not only feels the energy of the day-to-day habits and recreation activities of Hobson’s subjects, but one also senses the scorching climate and the region’s rugged terrain. And all this makes for a striking juxtaposition with Lewis Carroll, whose celebrated children’s fable Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland proved inspiring for Hobson, and gave the show its name.
“Alice’s adventures opened up my imagination and creativity,” says Hobson. “I’ve played with the title in a way to reflect young people’s imagination, to echo their life of colour and exploration. When I started photographing them, I saw that their life really was a wonderland and that there’s a large group of young people on a journey in search of themselves. Maybe the photographs are helping them to develop their own identity and be comfortable in it.
“I always felt the need to highlight the young people in my community, because their stories are always misrepresented.”
Adolescent Wonderland
Naomi Hobson
The Hahndorf Academy
1 Sep – 8 Oct 2023
This article was originally published in the March/April 2022 print edition of Art Guide Australia.
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