We are Kin explores the power of connection – how kinship can grow from starting conversations with strangers. Post ‘lockdowns’, Wollongong photographer Ruth Barbato noticed an increased sense of disconnection present in society. Wanting to do something about it, she went out into the local Illawarra community to capture portraits, listen to people’s stories and most importantly connect. She found people were keen to talk. The exhibition presents life-size portraits and audio conversations with some of the people she met. The audio is an integral part of the exhibition as it allows the viewer to connect with the person in the portrait by listening to their story.
You can see the We are Kin exhibition on display
from March 2025 at Wollongong Library.
View the portraits and hear people’s stories.
Arna – the power of embracing a positive perspective
Jeff chats about his legendary ‘grass car’ covered in astro turf
Joy – a table tennis champion who is still
carving it up as a veteran player
Steve – stories of a musician, comedian and all round entertainer
Brendan has been struck by lightening, not once but twice
Chris – country life can be hard yakka, but that’s fine by him
Jestina and Khyati chat about the power of friendship
Nate – the upside of being a graffiti artist
Michael has been picking up rubbish for 18 years
Ash chats about the power of connection and meeting new people
Grant chats about how falling off a motorcycle
led to an unexpected passion
Dom tells the story of how he came to work at an iconic fruitshop
Brooke started Street Beatz, a breakdancing and hiphop dance school
James has a creative mind that looks at things differently
Tarn chats about base jumping and his own brush with mortality
Linda chats about why making mosaics is more than a creative outlet
