Christos Tsiolkas (b. 1965) is a Melbourne-born writer of Greek descent, whose work deals uncompromisingly with sexuality, identity and politics. His first novel Loaded (1995) was made into the award-winning film Head On (1997), directed by Ana Kokkinos and starring Alex Dimitriades. His third novel Dead Europe (2005) won The Age Fiction Book of the Year. Tsiolkas has also written non-fiction and worked as a playwright on plays that have been performed in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra. His 2008 novel The Slap, a taut drama reflecting the changing cultural face of suburban Australia, won a swathe of awards and was made into an acclaimed television series, as was Barracuda, published in 2013. Damascus (2019), an historical novel, won the 2020 Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction. Tsiolkas has mentored emerging writers, a role he sees as reflecting his own experience: 'I was very fortunate that I had a couple of mentors in my life.'
Photographer John Tsiavis and Tsiolkas, both from Melbourne's Greek community, met on the set of Head On. Taken at a time when Tsiolkas' reputation as a talented young writer was developing, the moody photographs reflect the exploration of masculinity and sexuality in his work, and capture his psychological intensity.
Purchased 2009
© John Tsiavis
A portrait of the writer, Christos Tsiolkas, by John Tsiavis, created in 1998 and printed in 2009.
A type c photograph measuring 40.5 cm in height and 33 cm wide in a slender wooden frame with a wide, white border.
The photograph has irregular hazy edges.
The image is predominantly black. Christos face is partially revealed, emerging from the top left corner in vivid red. The right side of his face is highlighted with the left side disappearing into the darkness.
Christos’ upward tilting face is cropped at his forehead accentuating a strong eyebrow and hooded eyelid. Shadows gather, creating a deep socket. Rising out of the darkness, the pores of his cheek are visible; a stubbly moustache and his full, relaxed lips loosely holding a cigarette.
The entire left side of his face concealed in shadow. His facial features dissolve into darkness at his chin.
Audio description written by Alana Sivell and voiced by Rory Walker
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Tech entrepreneur Tan Le and photographer John Tsiavis.
Acclaimed Australian author, Christos Tsiolkas describes his childhood and how he came to write.
