Connor Dooley, Still Life of a Builders Tools (2025) (ART & CONCEPTUAL 2025)

My grandfather, my Opa was a Dutch immigrant who built things, houses for people to live in. However mundane manual labour may seem his work has left a lasting impact on the people of Dandenong, Victoria. In my photograph I depict his tools through reference to Dutch renaissance paintings. By archiving his tools I also feel connected to the process of labour by instead making the photograph, just as Opa would draw up plans to build. Since his passing a decade ago my family has drifted apart for many reasons, leaving me to investigate one of the many relics I have left of him. I begin to be worried if I will ever understand my family identity before it is too late.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.