Coexistences brings together several of Japan-based Italian photographer Laura Liverani’s portrait series. The subjects of these portraits include elderly cheerleaders, female sumo wrestlers, tobi construction workers, senior models, full-body spandex suit enthusiasts and Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu population. Six separate stories portray the lesser-known communities of today’s Japan. The people of every community portrayed, however distant from one another, all share a strong sense of group identity—an identity that is actively expressed in daily life.
This exhibition exposes a diverse range of communities that exist alongside mainstream Japanese society through photographic portraiture. The significance of each series is reflected in artist’s desire to capture individuals representing themselves and their community in an honest and vulnerable state. Whether presented as a staged studio shot or captured in the comfort of their own space, the series reflects a personal and collective story: stories of community leaders, artists, and above all ordinary people.
Australia's world-leading photography festival once again filters photography down to its finest. The great thing is that Head On's main venues at Bondi and Paddington are just a bus ride away.
Enthralling. Enchanting. Extraordinary. Discover exceptional photography for free around Sydney during the festival 8 Nov–1 Dec 2024
