Garry Trinh: Same, Same

8 November – 6 December 2008

Same, Same is the first solo exhibition by artist Garry Trinh.

Trinh highlights life’s peculiarities through his photography. Same, Same is an installation derived from a project which Trinh recently undertook – dressed in a black polyester sweater, Trinh went around Sydney with his camera and photographed himself with strangers who happened to be wearing the same outfit as him.

Same, Same explores unspoken cultural rules – and how allegiance to these “rules” plays a part in constructing our sense of identity. Same, Same uses fashion as an artefact of culture to examine what is and is not acceptable in a consumerist, idol-worshipping age.

Trinh says, “I was intrigued by the idea of a fashion ‘faux pas’ which, in the extreme case of supermodel Naomi Campbell, resulted in her assaulting a friend who was wearing the same outfit.”

Same, Same will see 4A’s Ground Floor street-front space wallpapered with photos of Trinh and his lookalikes. Visitors will be able to try on identical sweaters and photograph themselves in the gallery. The Same, Same project will be expanded through these photos – visitors can email them back to 4A or upload them to 4A’s Facebook site. 

Garry Trinh is a photographic artist. His artworks and photographs have appeared in numerous exhibitions and publications. He holds a BA in Psychology and a BA in Visual Communications/Photography and Digital Imaging from the University of Western Sydney. He was the winner of the Sydney Life prize in 2007. Trinh’s photography happens whilst he travels through life capturing the extraordinary in the everyday. Trinh lives and works in Sydney Australia.