Your hair is your own. At the same time, hair forms part of our shared experience as diverse communities. When brought under the gaze of others, head and facial hair become markers of identity, gender and culture. In archival photography, hair also functions as a kind of visual time stamp. Wondering when a photo was taken? Well, take a look at the hair! These photos are taken from the collection of Public Record Office Victoria. Melbourne, Australia, and were showcased in a 2016 exhibition at the Victorian Archives Centre.
This content was originally produced for a physical exhibition at the Victorian Archives Centre, North Melbourne. The exhibition 'From Mos to Mullets' was exhibited from October 2016 to February 2017.
Exhibition Curators: Laura Feslier and Kate Follington
Online producer:
Tara Oldfield
Visit prov.vic.gov.au for more information about our collection.