Juan David Tena: Portraits of FusionFest is a series of over 400 photographs showcasing the portraits of Central Florida residents, captured by photographer Juan David Tena during the 6th and 7th FusionFest festival celebrations. Twenty-two of these portraits are on display in this gallery. Tena’s photographic practice weaves together the rich cultural backgrounds of his subjects and that of Central Florida, showcasing the vibrant connections that thrive within the local community. The resulting colorful and beautiful portraits in the exhibition are testament to Central Florida’s multicultural population. At its core, the celebration of FusionFest’s signature event is a cultural marvel in Central Florida, taking place every Thanksgiving weekend for the past seven years, and combining dance, visual arts, fashion, educational talks, cultural displays and culinary presentations in Downtown Orlando supporting local vendors and artists.
For these portraits, FusionFest invited participants who attended the festival to sit for Tena, fully adorned in the garments of their culture of origin. All the pictures taken over the two days were pro bono and elicited strong emotions among the participants. Each session was an opportunity for visceral human connection and immortalizing the lives of people who often feel unrepresented. Each photograph championed and honored the subject as an ambassador to their cultures and nations of origin. Each image serves as a brushstroke on the canvas of Central Florida’s extraordinary multiplicity of cultures, painting a vivid picture of the global tapestry present in the region. This exhibition is an ode to unity, culture, and the resilient spirit defining immigrants; it is more than an artistic endeavor; it becomes a declaration that our many cultures of origin aren’t merely a facet but rather the essence of our strength as a nation.
Juan David Tena (b. 1992) is a Colombian Spanish humanitarian photographer and photojournalist. Tena has garnered recognition for his commitment to documenting the lives of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities along Colombia’s Pacific coast, emphasizing his dedication to visually representing marginalized populations. His impactful work has found international acclaim, gracing the pages of esteemed media outlets, including the Nobel Prize, United Nations News, UNESCO, El Mundo Spain, Al Jazeera, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and France24. During his career, he was hired as the official photographer for the presidency of the Republic of Colombia during the tenure of Juan Manuel Santos. As a freelance photographer, Juan David Tena has broadened his artistic repertoire through collaborations with influential media outlets, as opinion columnist in the Orlando Sentinel, Al Dia Today, and La Prensa. His current focus on Central Florida underscores his commitment to capturing and conveying compelling stories and visuals, showcasing his versatility in photojournalism’s dynamic and ever evolving field.
