your family
CONVICT IN THE
family?
A new exhibition presented by Sydney Living Museums takes a fascinating and unique approach to investigating the impact the crimes and transportation to Australia in the 18th and 19th century has had on the course of many families. Comprising 50 large-scale photographs by documentary photographer, Mine Konakci, A Convict In The Family? explores the connection between convict settlers, their living descendants and the petty crimes that changed the course of their family history. The sitters — ordinary Australians — are photographed in modern settings such as their home, garden or a public space with an item representing the crime that saw their ancestor exiled. Here, Mine reveals three of the images from the exhibition, and chats to Paula Grunseit about the project…
A convict in the family? runs until 14 July at the Museum of Sydney. On 11 May at Hyde Park Barracks join curator Fiona Starr, Mine Konakci and some of the sitters for a discussion on “What convicts left behind”. See www.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au for details.
John Benson, French conference interpreter and scriptwriter Ancestor’s name: Paul Benson Conviction: Stealing a handkerchief Sentence: Transported for seven years Age: 16 when transported Arrived: 1831 on the Lady Harewood Mine says: “For the shoot at Paul Benson’s grave, I took along several embroidered handkerchiefs from my childhood. We were working out what to do for the shot and I saw John put a handkerchief into his pocket. When the shoot ended I said “I think you’ve got my handkerchief there”, but he seemed to be in a dream state and didn’t hear me. I thought as he had a young child, he was probably sleep-deprived! When I went home I realised the act of his ancestor had just been re-enacted right there at his grave! When I emailed him the next day he was very apologetic and hadn’t even realised.”