A WOMAN’S PLACE by Victoria Baldwin

An Auckland-based photographer examines the changing role of modern women in the domestic and commercial kitchen.

Awoman’s place is in the kitchen – a well-known and often-used phrase, yet when you look around most professional kitchens and read top-chef lists, why do women feature so little?

Throughout history, as cooking moved beyond the home and into a more commercial world, tasks that were once dominated by female ‘cooks’ became those performed by male ‘chefs’. In recent times though, things are shifting. Flicking through Instagram and the pages of food magazines, I see innovative female chefs rewriting the restaurant game, using their feminine appeal to reach new audiences. I see bloggers creating cooking revolutions from their home kitchens. What was once a place of oppression, has been subverted by many women to bring them success and personal agency.

‘A Woman’s Place’ is a project that examines the changing role of modern women in the domestic and commercial kitchen. Each subject is a forerunner in her field, helping to defy preconceived notions of gender bias. By showcasing the women in a hyper-feminised manner, I hope to evoke reflection within the viewer on how much has changed in this industry over the past half century, and what we have yet to achieve. I’m an Auckland-based photographer with a passion for food and the human connection that it inspires. My work showcases a vivid realism through my bold and optimistic images. I am the Vice-president of the Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association and was the instigator of ‘Women’s Work’, a group exhibition for International Women’s Day.

Originally from Sydney, and coming from a family in food production, food was part of my story from a young age. Upon finding a love for photography, these two worlds naturally combined. Since then I have delved into every part of the process and now find myself equally at home in a paddock as I am in the studio.

A background in theatre has resulted in a great love of mise en scène. I work closely with stylists and understand that what’s not in the scene is just as important as what is. This considered approach in combination with my structured process of image making, results in work that is not only bold and impactful, but also highly relevant to the project's display medium. victoriabaldwin.com

Photography Victoria Baldwin Prop Styling Noumi O’flaherty, Sharyn Buckley Clothing Styling Jacqui Whall Assistants Josh Szeto, Fergus Cahill Thanks to White Studios