Photographer captured community heartbeat
THE work of photographer Lex Mrocki, who documented the events and newsmakers of the Melbourne Jewish community for many years, is on display in the Seen and Unseen exhibition that opened at the Jewish Museum of Australia in Melbourne on Sunday, July 17.
Mrocki died unexpectedly two years ago aged 45 and the exhibition, curated by acclaimed photographer Emmanuel Santos, pays tribute to his work.
Mrocki was The AJN staff photographer in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and many of his photos of communal newsmakers and Been and Seen snapshots are featured in the exhibition, as well as a collage of AJN front covers.
Also on display are photos from his personal collection, including a visit to New York where he showed his talent for capturing the city’s architecture.
“Lex’s photographs not only represent a chapter in the history of the Jewish community, but give an insight to the vision of a photographer beyond the usual,” said Santos, who sifted through thousands of photos, including many that had never been published, to select the 30 works being exhibited.
“Lex’s quest was for images that triggered his passion as a photographer,” added Santos, who became a close friend of Mrocki after meeting him 25 years ago at the Camera Action shop in the city.
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Mrocki’s sister Freydi – lead singer of popular group Klezmania – has helped Santos in bringing the exhibition to fruition.
“We chose Lex’s birthday (July 17) to launch this exhibition two years after his death,” she said.
“We know that it will be a sad and reflective day, but we don’t want people to think of this exhibition as some kind of memorial. We want to celebrate Lex’s life, his work and his passion.
“There is no doubt that Lex’s early years at The Australian Jewish News were some of the most exhilarating and exciting for him as a young photographer.
“Seen and Unseen brings to fruition something that Lex did not get around to doing in his own lifetime – an exhibition of his work.”
Mrocki was born on July 17, 1964, in Melbourne and attended Melbourne High School. It was while he was a group leader at SKIF youth movement that he became interested in photography.
For many years, Lex worked at Camera Action before taking up his position with The AJN. In his later years, he worked as a freelance photographer in the community.
He died in October 2009 from a brain haemorrhage after being admitted for heart surgery at The Alfred hospital.
The Seen and Unseen exhibition is sponsored by The AJN.
The Seen and Unseen exhibition is at the Gross Gallery, Jewish Museum of Australia, 26 Alma Road, St Kilda, from July 17 to August 28. Enquiries: www.jewishmuseum.com.au.
REPORT: Danny Gocs
PHOTO: At the launch of the Seen And Unseen exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Australia are (from left) Emmanuel Santos, Freydi and Lionel Mrocki. Photo by Peter Haskin
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