St Sebastian Fights Back

St Sebastian Fights Back presents a radical reimagining of the traditional Christian martyr, transforming the passive victim into a figure of empowerment and resistance. This photographic series challenges centuries of artistic depiction that portrayed Sebastian as a submissive figure, instead showing him portrayed by a non binary model and as an active defender against oppression.

This Sebastian stands defiant – no longer bound and pierced by arrows, but actively protecting themselves with a shield and fighting back against their would-be executioners. This contemporary interpretation speaks to themes of resilience, self-defence, and the refusal to accept victimhood.

Through dramatic lighting and carefully considered composition, the photographs create a powerful narrative of transformation from persecution to empowerment. The series aims to spark dialogue about resistance, identity, and the ongoing struggle against discrimination in contemporary society.