Xander Linger is an emerging photographic artist from Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.
Drawing from his background in Philosophy and position as a film lab technician, Xander has developed an innovative and environmentally conscious approach to photography. His practice is rooted in experimenting with alternative analogue techniques which utilise plant-based materials in place of traditional darkroom chemicals. This is not just for reasons of sustainability but also to be more collaborative and respectful to the subject matter and environment that he is making photographs with and within.
I acknowledge that many of my projects have been made throughout the lands, waterways and airways of ‘Australia’ and West Coast North America.
I have the deepest respect for the present histories of these original custodians but must also acknowledge photography’s own history in contributing directly and indirectly to the colonialism and violence suffered upon both Country and peoples.
Much of my work is about the vast interconnectedness of being, something that indigenous cultures have known about and practiced for millennia. I owe so much to the on-going work of these communities in championing a richer and more respectful way of life.
There is always so much more to learn, and the best way is to always listen.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 Intertidal, The Tap Room, Margate, UK
2023 People Tree, WIP Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
2019 Energetic Apathy, Glimpse Art Space, Northcote, VIC
2019 CREATE (from) WASTE, NOIR Darkroom, Coburg, VIC
2019 Hidden in Plain Sight, NOIR Darkroom, Coburg, VIC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 The Active Image: Political Ecologies & Photographic Agency, The Sustainable Darkroom, UK
2024 Fort Earth, Melbourne, VIC
2023 ‘Hope’ A survey of Australian & New Zealand film photography, B-Side Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
2023 ‘Past & Present: Der Greif 15th Anniversary, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
2022 Moving Visions, Loop Project Space, Melbourne, VIC
2019 Clairvoyance, NOIR Darkroom, Coburg, VIC
2019 Click 19, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
2019 NOIR Street, NOIR Darkroom, Coburg, VIC
2018 Another Untitled Exhibition, 388 Barkly St, Brunswick, VIC
2018 NCAT Photography Exhibition, No Vacancy, Melbourne, VIC
2018 Monochrome Memories, Magnet Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
AWARDS/PRIZES
2024 Guest Room Selection, Der Greif x Sustainable Darkroom & Tamsin Green
2024 Clip Award 2024, Perth Centre for Photography (Semi-Finalist)
2023 Photo Collective’s Australian Photography Awards (Winner – Environment)
2019 Perimeter Small Book Prize (Finalist)
EDUCATION
2018 – 2019 Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging, Northern College of the Arts and Technology
2017 Honours in Philosophy, University of Melbourne
2014 Sciences Po, Paris
2011 – 2015 Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne