Portrait of Kristian Haggblom in the style of Man Ray.
This website is not a cyber gallery simulation. Rather, it functions as a repository of my work and is purposely in a state of flux. It will be updated periodically but there is minimal logic to how the images are arranged beyond series groupings and how they function back-lit on a screen.

Dr Kristian Häggblom is a Naarm (Melbourne)-based artist, academic, independent curator and photobook collector who works with conceptual documentary and expanded modes of photography that have included/combined sound, collected objects, video, text, publishing, performance and commisioned work. 

Häggblom completed his undergraduate studies in 1997 (RMIT), an Honours project in 2003 (University of Tasmania) and his PhD, titled Viewing Platforms, in 2014 (Monash University). He has worked extensively in Japan where he made work funded by the
Australia Council for the Arts
and has undertaken an Australia Council for the Arts artist-in-residence on Suomenlinna Island in Finland where he researched his heritage.

His work has been exhibited internationally including exhibitions in Australia, Japan, America, Mexico, India and Switzerland and is held in substantial collections.

I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land where I live, work and play, and respectfully recognise Elders past, present and future. 

Website design/coordination by Simon De Boer.


Recently Conducted Workshops


2024  
Linden New Art, Melbourne

Linden Creates: Photobook Masterclass is an intensive workshop designed for image-makers at all levels that have the beginnings of or an almost complete themed project in the form of series of images. Throughout the masterclass, participants will learn about ideas associated with the recent photobook phenomenon while making a concise edit of the works they bring to be assessed collaboratively with the group of participants. Associated ideas, such as dummy book production, the tyranny of distance and the photobook as object will also be discussed. Participants will gain further insight to photobook publishing, establish a sequence for their work and generate a plan to produce a physical book.

2023  
Linden New Art, Melbourne

Linden Creates: Contemporary Photography & The Photobook is a six-week program where participants develop a project to extend the possibilities and outcomes beyond files and prints into a photobook. Participants will develop refined camera craft techniques and compositional strategies to produce narrative-generating imagery. The program will also introduce concepts prevalent in contemporary practice, including expanded documentary. Once concluding the program, participants will have a conceptually-driven and technically-refined sequence of images in mock-up form and ready for publication.

2022  
Perth Centre for Photography.

Curatorial Considerations is a five-session program that focuses on the possibilities for curatorial practice within the field of expanded photography. Suitable for those wishing to develop their curatorial skills and knowledge, the online series will feature invited national and international guest speakers: Tim Clarke (UK), Pippa Milne and Daniel Boetker-Smith. The workshop will explore concept generation, audience engagement, administrational logistics, funding avenues and exhibitions in traditional and alternative spaces. Explore and refine your curatorial projects with the opportunity for presentation in the final session. Gain insight, make industry connections and expand a project for future execution.

2021  
Perth Centre for Photography.

INCUBATE: CREATE - COLLAB - CRITIQUE
PCP invites all artists working within the medium of photography to participate in INCUBATE: an online professional and creative development series. INCUBATE encourages open and inclusive discussions about photography. Over the course of four weeks, participants will have the opportunity to share their work, receive feedback, inspire new work and ideas, create bonds and spark collaborations. Facilitated by Dr. Kristian Häggblom a weekly theme will set the foundation for each seminar, along with a new guest artist joining in on the conversation, providing important artistic and professional feedback and advice for participants:

Disrupt: Hajime Kimura (JP)
Disquiet: Bella Capezio
Distort: Wouter Van de Voorde (NL/AU)
Discourse: Stephanie Rose Wood (UK/AU



Image: Samara Clifford

Education


2009 – 2014

PhD (Fine Art - Photography), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.


2003

BFA, Honours, Tasmanian School of Art, University of Tasmania, Australia, (First Class Honours (94%)).


1995 - 1997

BA Photography, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia.


Solo Exhibitions



2019

Veillance, c3 contemporary art space, Melbourne.


2017

Nihon: Iteration #1, Kala Ghoda Cafe + KGC Backroom, Mumbai, India.


2014

Viewing Platforms, Mildura Arts Centre, Victoria & MADA Gallery, Monash University.


2012

Viewing Platforms, Edmund Pearce, Melbourne.


2011

Saddam's Arse, whitecubeproject, Mildura, Victoria.

Suomi, Perth Centre for Photography & Beam Contemporary, Melbourne.


2004

de/consrtuct, Kings Artist Run Initiative, Melbourne.


2003

de/construct, Entrepot Gallery, School of Art, University of Tasmania.


2002

Heterotopias, Gallery K, Tokyo.


2001

Apogee, Nikon Salon Tokyo & Osaka.


2000

Knot, We Road, Ikebukuro Station (public installation), Tokyo.


1998

Construction Site, Span Galleries, Melbourne.


Two-person Collaborative Exhibitions



2019

Brunswick Surfaces, Motor Works Gallery, Melbourne (with Paul Batt).


2015

Ralik Chain, Mildura Palimpsest Biennale, Wallflower Photomedia Gallery (with Tuomas Alexander Laitinen).


2011

Wish you were here..., The Kar-Rama Motel Project, Mildura Palimpsest #8 (with Tuomas Alexander Laitinen).


2008

some other place than here, Stefano's Gallery 25, Mildura, Victoria (with Tomoki Imai).


2007

promiscuous paul knight + kristian häggblom, Gallerie Omotosando, Tokyo (sound by Philip Samartzis).


2005

Siri Hayes + Kristian Häggblom, Kings Artist Run Initiative, Melbourne.

inexterior, Area Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne (with Tomoaki Makino).


2002

Aokigahara Jukai (The Blue Sea of Foliage), Gallerie Omotosando, Tokyo (with Warren Fithie).


1999

Project 1, George Paton Gallery, University of Melbourne (with Juan Ford).


Selected Group Exhibitions (+ indicates curated by Kristian Häggblom)



2019

Capital, National Museum of Photography, Ballarat, curated by Namoi Cass and Dr Gareth Syvret for Ballarat International Foto Biennale.


2018

Beginnings, Forever (from the collection), Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Art, Yamanashi, Japan. 


2016

Landscape Dialogues, HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW.


2015

37° South to 19° North: Contemporary Photography from Australia, Museo de la Ciudad de Cuernavaca, Mexico.


2014

20 Years of the Young Portfolio Award, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.

Formality, Trocadero Art Space, Melbourne (curated by Paul Batt).


2013

Contemporary Documentary Photography from Oceania, OBSCURA FESTIVAL, Malaysia.


2012

+ ___on this site Victoria: Kororoit Creek, Wallflower Photomedia Gallery, Mildura, Victoria.


2011

Global@YoungPortfolio, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Art, Yamanashi, Japan.


2009

+ re-socialization: The Wentworth Gaol Project (Mildura Palimpsest #7), N.S.W.


2008

+ Silent Ruptures, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne and 24HR Art NT Centre of Contemporary Art.

(Untitled) u=______, Fette’s Gallery, Culver City, Los Angeles.


2007

We are all photographers now! , Musee de I’Elysee, Lausanne, Switzerland.


2006

Photographic Industry Exposition - ipod folio library, Tokyo Big Site.


2005

+ outdooring: 6 australian photomedia artists, Gallery Senkukan, Tokyo.

+ Paper Bridges – A conference of folding spaces, CAST, Tasmania.


2003

Sacpe, CAST, Tasmania.


2002

Photographs by the Next Generation, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Art, Yamanashi, Japan.


1998

Transit Lounge, Smith & Stonely Gallery, Brisbane.


1997

Recontres Internationales de la Photographie, Arles, France.


Grants and Awards



2018

The Japan Foundation, exhibition curatorial funds for Tsuka: an exhibition of contemporary Japanese photography.


2016

Contemporary Landscape Photography Award (shortlisted), Perth Centre for Photography.


2014

Bowness Photography Award (shortlisted), Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne.


2011

Contemporary Landscape Photography Award (Judges Commendation Prize), Perth Centre for Photography.


2010

Australia Council for the Arts, Residency Program, Finland (Suomenlinna).


2004

Australia Council for the Arts, New Work Grant, (Emerging Artist).


2003

Energex Arbour Contemporary Art Prize, Brisbane, (Finalist).


2003

The Walkom Manning Regional Art Gallery Prize, N.S.W. (First Prize).


2002

Project Wall, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney.


2001

Juna 21 Exhibition Grant, Nikon Cameras, Tokyo.


1998

Centre for Contemporary Photography/Leica Documentary Award, Melbourne.


Published Works






2014

Viewing Platforms, LANDSCAPE Stories #19: Australia (online).     

Viewing Platforms, Try Hard Magazine #5 (online).


2010

LOOK! Contemporary Australian Photography Since 1980, by Anne Marsh, MacMillan, Melbourne.


2007

Jisastu, EI8HT Photo Journal, London, Vol. 6, NO 1, MIND.


2006

Kristian Häggblom, un magazine, Issue 7, Kyla McFarlane.


Selected Conference Papers, Guest Lectures & Artist/Curator Talks


2024










2023
Keynote Lecture “The Power of Visual Culture” for Speculative Horizons symposium/exhibition, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait.

“The Power of Visual Culture” expands on the power and influence of photography in contemporary culture from an analytical perspective that begins with the questions: who made this image and why? The lecture is part of the visual culture education symposium and is elaborated on in an education kit. 


Keynote Lecture “Photography Expanded” for Speculative Horizons symposium/exhibition, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait.

“Photography Expanded” will outline and examine some photographic projects from Australia that push the use of lens-based practice in innovative and experimental ways. A focus will be on the presentation of long-form projects across exhibition, publishing and cyber platforms.

Chair of panel discussion “Documenting the Suburbs” for Rachel Morely’s exhibition Kingston Boulevard at The Annex, Werribee, Victoria, with Kaitlyn Church, Youssef Ibrahim & Rachel Morely.

2022
Keynote Lecture “Photography Expanded” for Speculative Horizons symposium/exhibition, Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait. 

“Photography Expanded” will outline and examine some photographic projects from Australia that push the use of lens-based practice in innovative and experimental ways. A focus will be on the presentation of long-form projects across exhibition, publishing and cyber platforms.


2022


“Conceiving the Photobook Project” for Photo 2022 Festival, facilitated by Ying Ang with Florian Hetz and Morganna Magee.


2018

“Tsuka: an exhibition of contemporary Japanese photography” in conversation with five visiting artists, Centre for Contemporary Photography.


2017

“Tsuka: the Japanese photobook as a means of atonement”, Unless you Will conference, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.


2016

“Jukai: The Japanese Suicide Forest”, Landscape Dialogues Conference, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW.


2015

“Surveillance, Surveilled”, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Borderless Futures, Reimaging the Citizen Symposium.


2014

“Viewing Platforms: New Modes of Documentary Making”, The 3rd International Conference of Photography and Theory (ICPT2014), Cyprus.


2014

“Viewing Platforms” QFP5: Fictions Conference of Contemporary Photography, Queensland College of Technology & Queensland Centre for Photography.


2012

“Lost & Found: Family Photos Swept Away by the 3.11 East Japan Tsunami”, floor talk with Japanese organisers Munemasa Takahashi and Hiroshi Hatate at the Centre for Contemporary Photography.


2011

“Suomi”, Artists floor talk, Perth Centre for Photography.


2010

“Mapping Terrain; Australian Artists on Landscape”, Australian Centre for the Moving Image.


2010

“Landschaft – Kalle Kataila & Kristian Häggblom”, Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki.

“Contemporary Australian Visual and Performance Arts in relation to Photography”, The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Guest Lecture.

“Photographic Perspectives”, Pekka Halonen Academy of Fine Arts, Finland, Guest Lecture.


2009

“Aokigahara Jukai: The Japanese Suicide Forest”, Art Association of Australia & New Zealand.


Collections



Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Art (Japan), Tasmanian Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Monash University Museum of Art, Australian Parliament House Collection, Mildura Arts Centre and international and national private collections.