The Saint, Sayan, Bali

Jon Lewis' recent photography is distinguished by its ongoing commitment to issues of social justice and the preservation of human rights. He began exhibiting in 1974, was a member of Sydney's renowned 'Yellow House' and has been an active campaigner for animal rights. Lewis is perhaps best known for his early images of people on Bondi Beach and other portraits. However, his sympathetic photographs documenting the complicated plight and conditions of the East Timorese people now distinguish his recent more politically informed practice. 'The Saint', from an earlier series produced during the 1980s, depicts a man in an empty street smiling bashfully at the camera. This image demonstrates the way Lewis' photographs seek to explore the physical, spiritual and metaphorical connections between people and their surroundings.