Floor Talk with Bronek Kozka and Shane Hulbert
December 9, 2025
From Darkroom to Algorithm: AI is changing more than just how pictures are made—it’s challenging the core ideas of visual narrative. What happens when the reality, timing, and creative control behind the “decisive moment” are all questioned? Does our old way of image-based narrative still work? What makes an AI-generated image feel “real” or trustworthy? And what new visual languages and ways of seeing could come from all this?
In this transformative era, how do we learn to trust this new narrative form, find meaning in it, and think about it carefully?
We are pleased to welcome Australian photographic artists Bronek Kozka and Shane Hulbert for an in-depth discussion with our community.
About the artists
Bronek Kozka
Artist, curator, and academic Bronek Kozka centres his practice on the environment and its intricate connections. Working between Melbourne and Shanghai, he constructs profound and compelling visual narratives that emphasise the necessity of re-establishing a deep bond between humanity and the natural world.
He transforms smart devices into collaborative tools rather than mere recording instruments. By layering instant exposure images, he weaves dynamic visual sequences that resonate with the movement of nature. His methodology merges traditional Chinese landscape philosophy with contemporary digital aesthetics, forming an embodied form of visual research that invites viewers to look beyond the screen and immerse themselves in the imperfect beauty of nature.
Beyond his studio practice, Kozka teaches at RMIT University in Melbourne, where he fosters dialogue and nurtures creators with strong environmental awareness. His curatorial work spans international contexts, building bridges between diverse artistic communities and cultural perspectives.
In June of this year, Kozka was invited to share his creative philosophy and working methods with art lovers at NOMAD NO MAD SPACE. As a 2025 resident artist at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, he created a new series of sculptural works. By using heat-moulded acrylic, he transforms landscapes into three-dimensional forms that can be ‘held in the hand.’ This series was exhibited at the 2025 West Bund Art & Design Fair.
Shane Hulbert
Shane Hulbert is an award-winning Australian artist and academic whose lens-based practice interrogates the friction between cultural myth and mediated reality.
Hulbert’s work is a compelling exploration of the “post-truth” condition. Moving between documentary traditions and synthetic construction, he creates a speculative archive of modern disquiet—examining everything from the shifting narratives of Australian national identity to the ambient anxiety of the algorithmic age. His images do not merely record; they question the very nature of authenticity in a networked society.
He has established a robust international profile, with a strong exhibition history across the Asia-Pacific and the Americas. His work has been selected for major international photography festivals in Australia, China, South Korea, and the United States, including repeated engagements at the prestigious Pingyao International Photography Festival. His work has also been presented at key Australian institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and the Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP).
His studio practice is underpinned by a deep engagement with visual culture theory. Based in Melbourne, Hulbert is an associate professor at RMIT University and plays a pivotal role in the industry as the producer of The Australian Photography Video Channel in partnership with the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh).
