May
“Portraits of Resilience” is a collaboration with the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) and is a series of portraits that are currently being exhibited at the Phillips Collection @TheARC in Washington DC. On the 27th of April the Phillips Collection organised a panel discussion about the photographs including myself as the artist and Hagir Elsheikh, who is on the TASSC International board and is a survivor of torture from Sudan.
Hagir Elsheikh – “As a torture survivor, the first thing that you lose is your voice, and getting that back requires a lot of courage. You are never really the same but you get to cope with help from organisations such as TASSC”.
Of course, if you would like to watch the whole film it is now available on YouTube at
P.S. – Please forgive my delivery … I am a photographer not an orator!
May
On Wednesday 27th of April my solo exhibition of “Portraits of Resilience “, in collaboration with TASSC International, at the Phillips Collection @TheARC in Washington DC launched with a reception and panel discussion artist talk. Over the course of the next week, I will share some of the highlights from the talk starting with
Survivors are the strongest and most effective voice in the campaign to abolish torture.
When I talk to people about the work, their initial reaction is usually the same, as they imagine gritty black and white portraits that show harrowing faces that are worn and downtrodden.
I wanted to capture a series of beautiful and powerful portraits that each person would be proud of.
Of course, if you would like to watch the whole film it is now available on YouTube at
P.S. – Please forgive my delivery … I am a photographer not an orator!
Apr
The Phillips Collection (Phillips@THEARC) presents Portraits of Resilience, featuring photographs by Jonathan Banks that share the stories of survivors of torture. Alongside the exhibition The Phillips Collection produced a book with the portraits and stories.
The exhibition is held in collaboration with the artist, the survivors, and Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC). The exhibition is on view from April 27 to July 29, 2022.
Apr
Yesterday evening was the reception and artist talk for “Portraits of Resilience”, an exhibition organised by The Phillips Collection, @THEARC in Washington DC f featuring photographs of torture survivors by myself in collaboration with Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC International) which now runs until July 29 2022.
Thanks to Nehemiah Dixon and the team at the Phillips Collection for the amazing reception and artist talk that they organised. A recording of the event will be available on YouTube shortly and I will update you with links to this as soon as possible.
Thanks to Ryan Welch and Nando’s for generously supplying an incredible spread of food for the event. Everyone truly appreciated the contribution and loved the food. It is great to be able to bring together a socially responsible company like Nando’s and a charity such as TASSC International - especially when it involves ‘breaking bread’ over great food!
Thanks to TASSC International for all your amazing work and support that you give to survivors. Everyone on the team is so valuable and has been invaluable to our collaboration.
Thanks to the survivors that attended in person and online. You are the purpose for these photographs, and I only hope that my portraits do your stories justice.
