Anna Myers Lyons

“Meet me at Degraves”

Digital photographs

The Australian social documentary photographer, Rennie Ellis said that the Melbourne City has a “feeling of togetherness that [unites] everyone… whether they [are] freaky-looking, a hippie kid or an old geezer feeding the pigeons… it’s neutral territory where respect for the individual was part of the ground rules”. These ideas of commonality and unity within the Melbourne city juxtaposed with the individuality of people, each unique to one another through things such as fashion, culture and art, is the overarching theme explored in my artworks. The city and its urban moody environments contribute greatly to the culture and identity of individuals, therefore, I explored the interaction of people with their environment throughout both artworks, capturing the idiosyncrasy of individuals within the grungy city spaces they immerse themselves in. Areas explored included Flinders Lane, Degraves Street and Campbell Arcade, as these spaces are always bustling with a diverse range of individuals and are central to the heart of the Melbourne CBD. Moreover, to incorporate both the environment of the urban landscape with my subject matter of people, these specific areas encapsulate the urban moody aesthetic of the city through the ubiquitous street art and graffiti, helping to reinforce the counter culture and uniqueness that is what defines out city to be the city of Melbourne.