The Thousands

In 2008, Western Australia’s Mark McPherson magically transformed his small B&W photo zine into a full-color coffee table book (and accompanying international exhibition) – with its charm and beauty still intact. ACP director Alasdair Foster even called Hijacked 1, “the most important photographic book that’s come out of Australia in at least five years”.

For his next trick, McPherson and co. have curated contemporary German and Australian photography, with a mix of methodologies and subjects. Hijacked 2 features some of that Vice/Hamburger Eyes-style photography you’re familiar with – partying, nudity, guns, bikes. Yet these are positioned amidst a wide range of human experience and innovative aesthetics; like dayglo suburban landscapes by Louis Porter, or ethereal snapshots of the everyday from Thekla Ehling.

This massive tome packs plenty of inspiration and illuminates some great emerging artists. McPherson is already working on his follow-up act, Hijacked 3, and it’s great to see a fellow Aussie producing quality work on an international stage. Buy this now and support independent artists, publishers, and daydreamers like yourself.