Greek-Australian artist Antonis Baxevanidis is known across Australia for his acclaimed work as both an actor and a photographer, but one moment from his photographic career stands out above the rest.
A spontaneous image he captured of Nelson Mandela, during the South African leader’s visit to Melbourne in 1990, touched the heart of Mandela himself, who later sent Baxevanidis a personal letter of gratitude. The image, which captured Mandela in a rare, contemplative moment bathed in natural light, was used globally by Kodak in its campaign “Truth in Light”.
“It wasn’t just a photograph,” Baxevanidis once said in an interview. “It was a way of seeing into someone’s soul without them having to speak a word.”
The letter from Mandela’s office, expressing admiration and appreciation, is now proudly framed in Baxevanidis’ home.
From actor to photographer – A life of storytelling
Baxevanidis’ passion for acting came first. A staple in both community and mainstream Australian theatre, he also starred in popular television series and films. But photography became his refuge — a way to express what words couldn’t.
“When I couldn’t express something in words,” he recalls, “I would take a photograph.”
His early photos were taken with a humble Kodak camera and years later, Kodak would amplify his work to the world.
Despite his success on stage and screen, he never stopped photographing. His lens captured not only celebrities and activists, but intimate truths, moments of silence, depth, and light.
The shot that moved Mandela
The now-iconic Mandela photograph was taken during an unplanned moment. Baxevanidis, invited as a photographer to cover the South African delegation’s visit, happened upon Mandela sitting alone.
“He was just sitting there, quiet. The light hit his face as if it had been directed by God,” Baxevanidis said.
Shortly after, he received the unexpected letter from Mandela’s private office. That letter, along with the image, has since become a symbol of the quiet power of art.
The photograph also once hung in the office of former Victorian Premier Joan Kirner.
A chronicler of moments, not just roles
That same trip also allowed Baxevanidis to photograph Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a close ally of Mandela and fellow champion against apartheid.
A member of the Australian Journalists Association (AJA) and a regular contributor to Neos Kosmos, Baxevanidis defies categorisation. He is more than an actor. More than a photographer. He is, above all, a storyteller, whether on stage or through the lens.
“If there’s one word that defines his journey,” the writer reflects, “it’s transition, from Greece to Australia, from image to emotion, from theatre to memory.”
And through that journey, Antonis Baxevanidis has left his mark on both art and history.
