Gallery curator Leanne Barrett has tasked 20 artists with the challenge of reinterpreting five photographs taken by Dupain during a visit to Gloucester in the late 1950s.

“Two of the photographs are quite recognisable, of the Mograni and the main street,” Ms Barrett said.

Ms Barrett said she has tasked the artists, musicians and writers with reinterpreting either one or all five of the Dupain photographs, with the works to be part of an exhibition starting on November 6.

“I picked artists that had done a solo show in the gallery,” Ms Barrett said.

“There are photographers, painters, sculptors - we’ve got poems, a song, someone’s written a piece of music.”

Ms Barrett said Jill White, Dupain’s long time friend and assistant and an award-winning photographer in her own right, would visit the gallery to present a People’s Choice Award for the most outstanding exhibit.

Max Dupain received his first camera as a gift in 1924. 

He joined the Photographic Society of NSW, where he was taught by Justin Newlan.

By 1934 Max Dupain had struck out on his own and opened a studio in Sydney.

 In 1937, while on the south coast of New South Wales, he photographed the head and shoulders of a friend, Harold Salvage, lying on the sand at Culburra Beach. 

The image, entitled Sunbaker, subsequently became Dupain’s most famous piece.

During World War II, Dupain served with the Royal Australian Air Force in both Darwin and Papua New Guinea helping to create camouflage.

Following the war, he worked extensively for the University of NSW and CSR Limited, making many trips to the interior and coast of northern Australia. 

But apart from his war service he rarely left Australia.

Dupain continued working until his death in 1992.

The ‘Max Dupain Reinterpreted’ exhibition will feature all five photographs of the Gloucester area - the images are on loan from the Manning Regional Gallery - and runs from November 6 to 30.

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the gallery on November 30.