BELA VARADI
PHOTOGRAPHY

BIO

I am a Hungarian born Roma photographer, live in London.

My documentary photographs are centred around themes of human rights activism, LGBTQI+ and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) experiences. Some of my recently completed photo series presented the disappearance of Roma minority journalism and the lives of Hungarian working-class Roma communities.

For decades I have been trying to integrate my two main interests; creating visual art and represent the life and interest of Roma people in Hungary. As a young adult, I worked as a local councilor and I also spent time painting pictures. Starting a career in journalism helped me to find an accommodating platform for my passion for visual and social representation. I was one of the founding members of Europe’s first Roma radio, RadioC. After working for various radio stations and online newspapers, I started working for television as a news reporter and broadcaster. Alongside my journalist job, I have created a documentary mini-series which won the grand prize at the Faces of Poverty Film Festival in 2010. 

As the far-right Orban government started its crackdown on the public broadcaster, it became increasingly hard to maintain my editorial freedom. I resigned in 2011 and moved to the UK. Starting life in a new country forced me to reconsider how I could create socially conscious visual art. I started educating myself in photography and after years of experimenting, I secured freelance positions in photo studios in London. In my free time, I could return to create photo-documentary series. I started various projects about immigration, Roma journalism, and minority representations. 

Recent exhibitions:

-         Town explores a book literary festival, Hasting, 2022

-         Atchin Tan stage – Glastonbury Festival 2022 and 2023 – headline artist in 2023

-         BBA One Shot Award – Berlin, 2023

-         Portrait of Britain  - shortlisted, 2023

-       DEL SARENGE, Festival di arte romanì della città di Milano - 2023

Cultural Partners:

-          Romani Cultural and Arts Company, Wales 

-         ERIAC - European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture

-          Traveller Times