Changing Faces exhibition
Changing Faces: Reframing Women in Local Democracy celebrates the contribution women make to the municipality of Bayside and encourages women to get involved in local democracy.
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Funded by VicHealth under the Gender Equality and the Arts grants program, this powerful project celebrates 171 amazing local women who have been nominated by the community in recognition of their contribution and leadership.
Portraits of former Mayors that usually adorn Bayside City Council Chambers have been temporarily replaced with portraits of women who contribute to Bayside.
In Bayside City Council’s 161 year history, only 15 female mayors have been elected, and this project aims to highlight the historic under-representation of females on Council, both in the past and present.
![Individual portrait of participants wearing fake moustaches and beards](https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/1900-changing-faces-website-header_0.jpg?itok=hTq3t2CD)
Bayside City Council worked with renowned photographic artist Ponch Hawkes, whose works have been featured in the National Gallery of Australia.
Hawkes challenged the participants to wear fake moustaches and beards to humorously disrupt Bayside City Council’s gender narrative and highlight the stereotype of men being more capable leaders in politics and at work.
These images appear larger in the gallery box
![Rows of aqua chairs in Council Chambers with black and white portrait photographs on the walls](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/1_Changing%20Faces%20story_19.jpg?itok=vtg3L7Gx)
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/2%20Changing%20faces%20story_11.jpg?itok=pKXYKkuy)
![6 Black and White portraits of women wearing fake facial hair as part of the exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/3_changing_faces_story21_2.jpg?itok=b-fTCT7e)
![Interior of Council Chambers including last row of chairs and portraits of former mayors installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/4_changing_faces_story_1.jpg?itok=R8k7p97f)
![Interior of Council Chambers including a four chairs and portraits of former mayors installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/5_changing_faces_story_past_0_1.jpg?itok=lRV3MxgY)
![Portraits of former female mayors installed at Council Chamber and empty chairs](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/6_changing_faces_story_past3_1.jpg?itok=8AG_3YjX)
![Mayoral chair with black and white former female mayors portraits installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/7_changing_faces_story12_0.jpg?itok=td_ssp0_)
![Portrait of Ponch Hawkes photographer wearing glasses and an aqua top](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/8_changing_faces_story_past_portrait_1.jpg?itok=ski52QZU)
![Ponche Hawke taking a photograph of a sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/9_changing_faces_story4_0.jpg?itok=R31mThIb)
![Ponche Hawke applying moustache to sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/10_changing_faces_story2_1.jpg?itok=zSsfceNl)
![Photographer applying fake moustache to women as part of the exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/11_changing_faces_story6_0.jpg?itok=xcYJcZx8)
![Ponch Hawke photographing a sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/12_changing_faces_story5_0.jpg?itok=fH8e-WoO)
![Black and White photos on Interior at Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/13_changing_faces_story15_0.jpg?itok=eYB3rS07)
![Some participants wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/14_changing_faces_story16_1.jpg?itok=Ha8OwhpN)
![Some women wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/15_changing_faces_story14_1_1.jpg?itok=jf-ojw5k)
![Women wearing fake facial hair in her portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/16_changing_faces8_0.jpg?itok=cHA06Iwa)
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/17_changing_faces_story13.jpg?itok=Bpt6u0sL)
![Individual portrait of young women in school uniform wearing a fake moustache](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/18_changing_faces9.jpg?itok=zTZ2qh1h)
![Portrait of Cherie Dear by Ponch Hawkes](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/19_changing_faces30.jpg?itok=h80mhTxu)
![Solo portrait for Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/20_changing_faces95.jpg?itok=wqyw0exV)
![Portrait of Sanja Bollard by Ponch Hawkes](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/21_changing_faces142.jpg?itok=3UHCSnNF)
![Interior Council Chambers with aqua chairs around small tables and chairs and portraits on the walls](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/22_Changing%20Faces%20Exhibition_9.jpg?h=0a255280&itok=RSYHMBWK)
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/23_changing_faces_story18.jpg?itok=JsA-A7Br)
![Interior of Council Chambers with aqua chairs and portraits on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_crop_16_9/public/2021-09/24_changing_faces_story10.jpg?itok=j5aA35oV)
![Rows of aqua chairs in Council Chambers with black and white portrait photographs on the walls](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/1_Changing%20Faces%20story_19.jpg?itok=Ui7hzJKt)
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/2%20Changing%20faces%20story_11.jpg?itok=YPwGY3aL)
![6 Black and White portraits of women wearing fake facial hair as part of the exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/3_changing_faces_story21_2.jpg?itok=UKtJrvD2)
![Interior of Council Chambers including last row of chairs and portraits of former mayors installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/4_changing_faces_story_1.jpg?itok=dyYJm8me)
![Interior of Council Chambers including a four chairs and portraits of former mayors installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/5_changing_faces_story_past_0_1.jpg?itok=7nF1l8Ja)
![Portraits of former female mayors installed at Council Chamber and empty chairs](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/6_changing_faces_story_past3_1.jpg?itok=04adKKbX)
![Mayoral chair with black and white former female mayors portraits installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/7_changing_faces_story12_0.jpg?itok=nEXupQl9)
![Portrait of Ponch Hawkes photographer wearing glasses and an aqua top](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/8_changing_faces_story_past_portrait_1.jpg?itok=FFNsxB-n)
![Ponche Hawke taking a photograph of a sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/9_changing_faces_story4_0.jpg?itok=wDfNGi1y)
![Ponche Hawke applying moustache to sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/10_changing_faces_story2_1.jpg?itok=WbsDRsoN)
![Photographer applying fake moustache to women as part of the exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/11_changing_faces_story6_0.jpg?itok=-zFUTuMW)
![Ponch Hawke photographing a sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/12_changing_faces_story5_0.jpg?itok=G0Jpv-5r)
![Black and White photos on Interior at Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/13_changing_faces_story15_0.jpg?itok=klhY4IBa)
![Some participants wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/14_changing_faces_story16_1.jpg?itok=4QMPNSAM)
![Some women wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/15_changing_faces_story14_1_1.jpg?itok=Bavslf7k)
![Women wearing fake facial hair in her portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/16_changing_faces8_0.jpg?itok=lnoJxSXn)
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/17_changing_faces_story13.jpg?itok=V1tDQ2HG)
![Individual portrait of young women in school uniform wearing a fake moustache](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/18_changing_faces9.jpg?itok=M3R91C9F)
![Portrait of Cherie Dear by Ponch Hawkes](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/19_changing_faces30.jpg?itok=bQlg7PaB)
![Solo portrait for Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/20_changing_faces95.jpg?itok=hflKHflL)
![Portrait of Sanja Bollard by Ponch Hawkes](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/21_changing_faces142.jpg?itok=hDoFMtqt)
![Interior Council Chambers with aqua chairs around small tables and chairs and portraits on the walls](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/22_Changing%20Faces%20Exhibition_9.jpg?h=0a255280&itok=SSyC-KrZ)
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/23_changing_faces_story18.jpg?itok=lMSvPi9_)
![Interior of Council Chambers with aqua chairs and portraits on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_landscape_thumb_16_9/public/2021-09/24_changing_faces_story10.jpg?itok=IWhM8trv)
![Rows of aqua chairs in Council Chambers with black and white portrait photographs on the walls](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/1_Changing%20Faces%20story_19.jpg?itok=db_xnTye)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Bayside City Council is proud to present Changing Faces: Reframing Women in Local Democracy. This exhibition celebrates the contribution women make to the municipality of Bayside and encourages women to get involved in local democracy.
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/2%20Changing%20faces%20story_11.jpg?itok=pnwHpCkB)
Changing Faces Exhibition
The exhibition was held online due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
![6 Black and White portraits of women wearing fake facial hair as part of the exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/3_changing_faces_story21_2.jpg?itok=Qagp3CjH)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Funded by VicHealth under the Gender Equality and the Arts grants program, this powerful project celebrates 171 amazing local women who have been nominated by the community in recognition of their contribution and leadership in many areas.
![Interior of Council Chambers including last row of chairs and portraits of former mayors installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/4_changing_faces_story_1.jpg?itok=Ka49RCSC)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Seen here, portraits of former mayors that usually adorn Bayside City Council Chambers have been temporarily replaced with portraits of women who contribute to Bayside.
![Interior of Council Chambers including a four chairs and portraits of former mayors installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/5_changing_faces_story_past_0_1.jpg?itok=yaVHpA1s)
Changing Faces Exhibition
In Bayside City Council’s 161 year history, only 15 female mayors have been elected, and this project aims to highlight the historic under-representation of females on Council, both in the past and present.
![Portraits of former female mayors installed at Council Chamber and empty chairs](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/6_changing_faces_story_past3_1.jpg?itok=9L-CA4Y2)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Portraits of former male mayors that usually adorn Bayside City Council Chambers were temporarily removed, leaving behind portraits of former female mayors' of Bayside.
![Mayoral chair with black and white former female mayors portraits installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/7_changing_faces_story12_0.jpg?itok=ZPXJyLRq)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Twelve women have been elected mayors and their portraits are displayed surrounding the mayoral chair.
![Portrait of Ponch Hawkes photographer wearing glasses and an aqua top](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/8_changing_faces_story_past_portrait_1.jpg?itok=crIPtfA2)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Bayside City Council worked with renowned photographic artist Ponch Hawkes, to humorously disrupt Bayside City Council’s gender narrative and highlight the stereotype of men being more capable leaders in politics and at work.
![Ponche Hawke taking a photograph of a sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/9_changing_faces_story4_0.jpg?itok=Q5pBVxxa)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Ponch Hawkes is a Melbourne based photographic artist. She has recorded and commented on Australian society and cultural life since the 1970s.
![Ponche Hawke applying moustache to sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/10_changing_faces_story2_1.jpg?itok=IFR5yHPS)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Her work explores themes of the body, movement, the environment, community and relationships with a feminist perspective
![Photographer applying fake moustache to women as part of the exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/11_changing_faces_story6_0.jpg?itok=a8hsCx66)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Hawkes has published several books and held 13 solo exhibitions of her work in Australia and has been included in multiple group exhibitions in Australia and internationally.
![Ponch Hawke photographing a sitter](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/12_changing_faces_story5_0.jpg?itok=_n3ww6U9)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Ponch Hawkes is represented in a number of public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, State Library of Victoria and Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art.
![Black and White photos on Interior at Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/13_changing_faces_story15_0.jpg?itok=_q_s8V4c)
Changing Faces Exhibition
For this project, the community were asked to nominate women and girls who they considered to be role models within Bayside.
![Some participants wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/14_changing_faces_story16_1.jpg?itok=E6yBXXRQ)
Changing Faces Exhibition
A broad section of females were nominated for their leadership in the fields of politics, the arts, media, sport, volunteering, community life, social justice, inclusiveness and gender equality.
![Some women wearing fake facial hair in their portrait for Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/15_changing_faces_story14_1_1.jpg?itok=rK2oWbRj)
Changing Faces Exhibition
The nominees were a mix of well-known and influential people and ordinary citizens of Bayside, making a difference.
![Women wearing fake facial hair in her portrait for the Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/16_changing_faces8_0.jpg?itok=Q7DtYwZH)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Many participants have chosen to take up the challenge set by renowned artist Ponch Hawkes and wear beards or moustaches in their portraits as a way to humorously disrupt the gender narrative.
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/17_changing_faces_story13.jpg?itok=lfvcsoOk)
Changing Faces Exhibition
“The moustaches and beards is not aimed at pretending women need facial hair to be considered equal,” Ponch said.
![Individual portrait of young women in school uniform wearing a fake moustache](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/18_changing_faces9.jpg?itok=jpb7ypHP)
Changing Faces Exhibition
Ponch’s vision is to highlight and question the stereotype of men being more capable leaders in politics and at work.
![Portrait of Cherie Dear by Ponch Hawkes](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/19_changing_faces30.jpg?itok=lA6pGKjl)
Changing Faces Exhibition
“The idea is to reinforce how unfortunate, and silly, that women are still so underrepresented," Ponch Hawkes
![Solo portrait for Changing Faces exhibition](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/20_changing_faces95.jpg?itok=MpOxYRaS)
Changing Faces Exhibition
"The facial hair will look quite fake, some of it stuck on, some held in front of the face or held up on little sticks," Ponch Hawkes
![Portrait of Sanja Bollard by Ponch Hawkes](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/21_changing_faces142.jpg?itok=RjfbfyxF)
Changing Faces Exhibition
"It will make participants feel they aren’t being judged by their looks, but instead they are participating in a serious project in a humorous way - making history," Ponch Hawkes
![Interior Council Chambers with aqua chairs around small tables and chairs and portraits on the walls](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/22_Changing%20Faces%20Exhibition_9.jpg?itok=suBNN2fl)
Changing Faces Exhibition
“This exhibition is provocative, controversial and will stimulate debate. I encourage these conversations because it shines a light on the historic inequity in our local democracy," Cr Clarke Martin, Mayor of Bayside City Council.
![Interior of Bayside City Council Chambers with Changing Faces photographs installed](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/23_changing_faces_story18.jpg?itok=xsUiJOns)
Changing Faces Exhibition
"Local government elections are coming up in October 2020 and I hope this exhibition can be a catalyst for gender equity in Bayside,” Cr Clarke Martin, Mayor of Bayside City Council
![Interior of Council Chambers with aqua chairs and portraits on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/accelerator_media_image_large/public/2021-09/24_changing_faces_story10.jpg?itok=veUmzcmi)
Changing Faces Exhibition
"Something needs to change. We have a wealth of talent in Bayside and we need to show women and girls that they can be decision and policy makers," Cr Clarke Martin, Mayor of Bayside City Council.
Mayor of Bayside City Council, Cr Clarke Martin, said: “This exhibition is provocative, controversial and will stimulate debate. I encourage these conversations because it shines a light on the historic inequity in our local democracy.
"Something needs to change. We have a wealth of talent in Bayside and we need to show women and girls that they can be decision and policy makers. Local government elections are coming up in October 2020 and I hope this exhibition can be a catalyst for gender equity in Bayside.”
Interview with Ponch Hawkes and interviewer Tai Snaith from Council Chambers in Brighton. Ponch talks about the exhibition and other recent works. The talk also featured a live Q&A session for viewers.