“We are ghosts, in a way. Walking through a landscape that continues to change.”
The works of Tamaki Makaurau born photographer, Brian Donovan, have profoundly influenced the documentation and appreciation of our evolving urban landscape. Capturing his first image, Milk Bar, at age 12, Donovan has dedicated over seven decades to capturing the essence of a city and its inhabitants.
A hallmark of Donovan's portfolio are his historical photographs of Tamaki Makaurau – an appreciation and celebration of memory, atmosphere and transformation. Donovan’s work creates an avenue for time to become visible – his images are not so much about what has changed, but what remains. Inspiring such images, Donovan feels as though wandering through the city is attune to time-travel, as if he is “walking through this old world that is now gone.” Thus, his collection not only serves as an artistic endeavour but also as a valuable historical record, preserving the memory of Tamaki Makaurau’s dynamic growth and the ever changing faces within.
His contributions to Aotearoa's photographic arts have been recognised in national exhibitions, including "The Active Eye," a landmark 1975 showcase of contemporary photography.
Donovan’s images sit at the intersection of memory and place. By layering past and present, he reveals not just what has changed, but how time quietly reshapes the way we see.