A Quiet Roar

Head On Photo Festival

John Tsiavis & Victoria Villasana

event-detail-person-vertical — John Tsiavis & Victoria Villasana

This event has concluded

Dates: 11 Nov 2023 - 03 Dec 2023

Location: Bondi Beach Promenade Queen Elizabeth Dr Bondi Beach NSW 2026

Hours: Daily 24/7

Entry Fee: Free

Genres: Fine-Art, Portrait

A Quiet Roar is a powerful portrait series paying tribute to activists fighting for social, political, and economic change. The series features Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, and Dreamer individuals whose journey into activism began as a necessity for survival.

The series is a collaboration between Australian photographer John Tsiavis and Mexican textile artist Victoria Villasana, who hand-weaves each portrait, adding texture and depth that celebrates the inner strength of each activist.

It includes inspiring individuals such as Josie, a young Indigenous woman whose arrest for sage-smudging at a Trump protest went viral; Chabe, an artist from Guadalajara whose work led to life-changing surgeries for Indigenous Mexican artisans; and Kevin, a climate justice advocate who sheds light on white dominance within activist organisations.

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John Tsiavis & Victoria Villasana

John Tsiavis is a multifaceted artist whose work spans portraiture, entertainment, and fashion photography and directing brand films, documentaries, and television commercials. Splitting his time between Los Angeles, Mexico, and Melbourne, Tsiavis has received finalist awards in the Head On Portrait Awards and the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Victoria Villasana, born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and now based in England, is a textile, installation, and urban art artist. Her work is heavily influenced by the history, culture, and human relationships in our post-digital world. She draws inspiration from the crafts and textile traditions of Mexico and other cultures, using textiles in innovative ways. Villasana explores her medium through installations, social projects, editorial work, and collaborations with artists, brands, and galleries worldwide.