Viva Gibb's Social Documentary Portraits at City Gallery Melbourne

Melbourne's City Gallery is showcasing 'On the Street Where I Live: Viva Gibb', an exhibition dedicated to the social documentary photography of the late Australian artist from the 1970s and 1980s. Running from March 5 to August 7, 2026, and curated by Savannah Smith, the display features Gibb's silver gelatin prints that portray the inhabitants of North and West Melbourne, particularly along Capel Street, where she lived and worked. Her subjects range from cafe owners and punks to intellectuals and the homeless, all captured with a Rolleiflex camera to ensure direct engagement. The exhibition includes her personal albums, 'The Street Where I Live 1974-1978', 'Boppin' in West Melbourne', and 'West Melb. 1980-1985', showcasing urban life and gentrification. Gibb's photography, characterized as direct and compassionate, emphasizes human dignity and social connections, while the 'photo cloud' format aims to illustrate community ties, despite some critiques regarding its impact on individual portraits. Additionally, the exhibition reflects on the community's decline following council property auctions in the 1990s, mirroring current urban development challenges. In 2025, Gibb's works were donated to the Melbourne Art Trust by Sybil Gibb and Rupert Duffy.