Tiahna Louise
6:37am: I venture out, with my 'hardly slept' morning glow - amplified by the hazy TransPerth windows. The train / my body arrives at Perth Station at 6:43am to interview Tiahna, a young Perth creative. She’s insisted we meet at 6:45am to catch ‘the best of the morning light’ and who am I to argue with this feisty and talented, upcoming photographer, artist and film director. Groovin' on the stations top - level parking lot, admiring the whole city; I can appreciate Tiahna's love for the simplicity and electrifying nature of silence, of being alone.
Tiahna is a risk collector. There are moments were I debate with my sanity while she manoeuvres herself, myself, her camera, plants, glass, and metal into jeopardising positions - all to expand her treasury of unpredictable, unconstrained, original photos. Balancing off the edge of the roof, it's exhilarating, and I can begin reflecting on the creative inner working of Tiahna's mind, through the unusual ways in which she manages to catch me on camera. As she shots, I ask about what inspires her.
“Freedom of expression.
We all see the same things differently and I love having fun with that, creating things that people all perceive differently.
Art shows that people took time out of their life to make something and express themselves which is amazing.”
"Veganism is a lifestyle rather than a diet, which means it's more then just eating a certain way.
We have put a death date on every living animal and the earth. It’s a double-edged sword, because if everyone went vegan today all the animals couldn’t survive because they depend on us for food, but if we don’t go vegan they will also all die, so being vegan is the more sane option… I’ve been a lot happier and I’ve become so much more compassionate to strangers once going vegan, I also appreciate the world, and the weather. Just life in general.”
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So I ask,
What would you say to people who are thinking about being vegan?
“People usually ask me ‘is it hard?’,
To be honest it's not that hard.
1)Don’t buy things that have animal products.
2)Don’t consume anything that is made from animal products, simple.
12:34pm: seated in a Dome alcove, across from me, Tiahna is eating avocado sushi (not from Dome but that's a secret between you, me and her). Curious about her lunch candidate, I suss out whether she’s vegetarian.
I ask, "Are you vegetarian?"
She begins to fill our booth with her passion about not just vegetarian but veganism (cause how can you be vegetarian when the dairy industry is even worse!).
“I've been vegan for almost 2 years (she begins), I saw this thing the other day,
‘Why do we test things on animals when we can test on criminals’ (she continues),
We aren’t told by our teachers or the government about the earths state. They don’t tell us that we are killing the earth at a faster rate than ever."
Lots of people tell me I don’t ‘look like’ a vegan, it's funny.
Quite a few people from older generations say it’s not their issue, it’s for the next generation to deal with.
Some people quote the bible, saying that animals were made to be eaten. To that I say,
“In the beginning of the Bible, in the garden of Eden they ate vegetables and fruit – and that was the perfect world.” So that, from a religious view, is what we were made to do. Animals are not there for eating - if we look at that side of creation.
And if you’re a fan of evolution, saying we came from apes – most apes don’t eat meat.
My family has learned to accept that I’m vegan, but it’s best not to bring it up.
Lots of people think vegans are so pushy, but I’m only pushy if you are going to start an argument, and usually, I’m just quoting facts.”
What I’ve noticed about Tiahna, by this point, is that she glows with self-awareness (and not lack of beauty sleep), with a real sense of her impact on the world. Though, her passions don’t begin and end with veganism and photography, she appreciates; traveling and reconnecting with her heritage, painting, cooking, singing, musical theatre and nature, including being waste and plastic wise.
“I don’t use plastic very often, if there is a little sticker label I’m like darn it, but when I leave home I’m going to go waste free. I also hate plastic cups, like please stop, you are killing the earth. Plastic doesn’t break down, please make something that can. Plastic is one thing we created that we know we can’t turn back, unlike metal and bricks etc. I’m excited about next year in July, when Australia is placing a ban on commercial plastic bags, like Woolworths and Coles bags.”
Tiahna loves going with the flow, but isn't afraid to rock the boat once in a while. She aims to spread the love and self-contentment that has filled her life and show the world her creative eye. Check her out on YouTube and Instagram!
interview by: ella wylynko
