Festival talk; Bridging the Gap - Women in Photography

A vibrant thread connecting many of the photographs on display in this year's Head On Photo Festival is the exploration of womanhood, femininity, family and community. We explore these powerful notions in our second 'Women in Photography' Panel. Featuring international and local photographers.

While women are no strangers to being the subject of art, what changes when women create their own images and narratives? As women deconstruct male-oriented ways of seeing and representing the world, they open vast new possibilities for creating images and telling stories. This unlocks powerful new ideas, dynamic forms, and experimentation which shifts the art of photography as a whole.

The panel addresses these ideas and more. They explore the diverse narratives of what it means to be a woman and how several women artists have delved into their gendered existence through their unique photographic styles. The speakers seamlessly blend art, sociology, and feminism as they provide a life-giving discussion sure to delight creatives, academics, and art lovers alike.

After the event, stay to network with the attendees and speakers at our Saturday Social.

Share your ideas, meet like-minded people, and have a drink to unwind by the beach.

Speakers:

Christina Force (NZ) is the founder and chairperson of CA+ Asia and of the NZ Agents and Producers Association. She's an AIPA member and speaker, a columnist for The Photographers Mail, and judge of many photographic competitions, including the highly esteemed IPA Lucie Awards since 2011. She has been a guest speaker/ lecturer for many institutions, including the ACMP, AIPA, CATC, Unitec, AUT and The New York Film Academy, and has been interviewed by Capture Magazine, Better Photography, Pro Photography, Campaign Brief, Stop Press and many more.

Alejandra López-Zaballa (Spain), a professional photographer specialising in street, travel, and visual storytelling, studied at the London School of Photography and ICP in NYC. After 14 years in HR, she founded a photography company in Thailand, moved to Mexico City, and now resides in Madrid. Her internationally exhibited work has received awards. Her book, I dry my hair in the wind supports a girls' home in Oaxaca. Passionate about social projects, she draws inspiration from diverse cultures and her family.

Diana Lui (France), a Malaysian artist of Chinese and Punjabi descent, moved to Los Angeles at 14 and has lived in Europe since 1998. Based in Kuala Lumpur and Paris, her work explores cross-cultural identities. Educated at UCLA and the Art Center College of Design, she draws inspiration from August Sander and Diane Arbus. Her globally exhibited work is part of significant collections, including King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Represented by galleries in Marrakech, Paris, Los Angeles, Ljubljana, Arles, and London.

Marta Soul (Spain/UK) "Born in Madrid, I faced a tough decision: choosing my profession. A random draw led me to photography. This choice sparked an exploration of social roles, emotions, and life decisions. My work visually examines cultural topics like self-aesthetics, emotions, and behaviour, challenging stereotypes on immigration, consumerism, and love through complex imagery."

Photo: Michael Amendolia