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urban tide community of Hobsons Bay
IlonaNelson
Don’t wanna know
Type C photograph 2004, Limited edition 1/3
60cm x 84cm
Ilona has had the creative urge for as long as she can remember, but photography took priority
when she was 10 years old in a caravan park at Queenscliff, when she set up her ‘Icehouse’
tape with her walkman and took photos of the composition with her pastel blue 110 camera.
It felt so right to be doing this that Ilona promptly went to her parents and declared that she
wanted to do a photography course and ever since has viewed the world as if she’s looking
through a lens. In 1998 she graduated with distinction as a Bachelor of Visual Arts from
Latrobe University in Bendigo majoring in photography. Over the past few years she has
exhibited across Victoria and earlier this year was the recipient of the Williamstown Festival
Contemporary Art Prize local artists award.
artiststatement
The environment I live in is the constant inspiration for my works. My ideas are always born
from the things I see and conversations overheard when I’m walking the dogs along the
beach. I like to stop and take in the sights and sounds around me and be inspired by watching
people going about their lives. I try to approach subjects that people are concerned about,
but don’t always talk about, such as how they really feel about the condition of the
environment and the state of politics today.