Robert Rosen is one of Australia’s foremost social photographers. Over four decades he’s attended parties, concerts, fashion events and nightclubs across London, Europe and Australia, capturing the rich, the famous and the fabulous for the social pages of a slew of local and international newspapers and magazines. Defying the image of the pushy, intrusive paparazzi, Rosen was polite and discreet, earning the trust of his famous subjects to make them forget he was actually working as he drank champagne with them, networked and juggled the three cameras slung around his neck.
Australian author, Warren Fahey once described Robert as ‘witty, sensitive and often consensually wicked’. A participant observer, he favoured the spontaneity of the unobtrusive auto-focus camera which enabled him to capture intimate portraits that convey the mood and energy of the times.
Rosen’s curiosity and generosity of spirit inspired him to document an eclectic mix of international and local celebrities like David Bowie, Nina Simone, Boy George, Sir Paul McCartney , Grace Jones, Yoko Ono, Mick Jagger , Marianne Faithful, Nicole Kidman, Debbie Harry, Sir Elton John , Michael Hutchence and 1000s more.
In this “Eye Light” exhibition, Rosen has turned his lens to focus mainly on Indonesian people from all walks of life, and has accentuated their eyes for the very worthwhile charity that is The John Fawcett Foundation which, for over decades, has been helping restore sight to underprivileged Indonesians, country-wide
Thirty-six fabulous portraits are on display at the exhibition, which runs for two months from mid-August to October, and is open daily for public viewing.
IG: @mrrobertrosen
