Interview Polly Borland

TIARNEY MIEKUS

Do you remember the first time that you intentionally took a photograph?

POLLY BORLAND

I don’t know if my memory is correct, but the first sessions I remember doing was when I was in high school in year 12. I was taking photos of two of my sisters in my bedroom, and that was an intentional photoshoot. Whether it’s the first intentional photograph—I don’t remember taking photos as a child, although I’m sure I did.

TM

Was your family interested in art?

PB

My father was an architect, and he was an extremely creative modernist architect. We were brought up in an arty family. My mother loved art and we were introduced to furniture designers and artists, and we were aware from a very early age about aesthetics—my father had specific furniture, designed furniture, in the house. We also went to a progressive, creative school, Preshil.

TM

A few people I know who went into fashion photography often had fashion or domestic aesthetics as a core relationship with their mother. I wondered if that was the case for you?

PB

Well, my mother was really into her own clothing. She definitely followed fashion and had a lot of magazines in the house. magazines, but she was very into French fashion, Italian fashion. She was very particular in what she wore. So, I was definitely aware of fashion, but that’s not really why… Well, it’s partly why I tried fashion photography, but it was more a suggestion of a tutor at Prahran College where I did art photography school. But in a way I regret that because it took me away from what I’m interested in: which is my own work. I always wanted to exhibit my work and that’s ultimately what I’ve ended up doing, but it took some years to get back to the original intention of my photography.