Through the Glass Menagerie is the moniker of Ashton Papazahariakis (b. 1992). Australian. He is based in Canberra, Australia, after returning from years living in Jakarta in March 2024.

His passion is photographing people, but he likes photographing places too. He also loves to cook, likes fashion and cranes, listening to post-rock to techno, and discussing big ideas.

His journey into photography started In 2003, when his hand-made cardboard camera was earnestly replaced with an illustrious Pentax Espio. He has methodically taken photos ever since.

His photography is explorative, and documentarian.  Growing up he documented his life and the lives of his friends. His photography continues to do so and is focused on people - who we are, how we live, and what it is we live for. These modalities are explored in Australia and overseas.

His projects include:

  • The Cult of Festavus (Since 2015)

A perpetual documentary project (with no foreseeable end) that studies music festivals in Australia: the places we go to lose our minds and find ourselves.

The project is in the spirit of GONZO journalism – in the form of energetic first-person participation.

  • All Roads Lead to Gazgolder (2016 - Unreleased)

The chronicle of a 30,000KM road trip from London to Siberia and back – that looks to our difference and similarity across barren and populated lands.

  • Then we found Kumbh (2013)

A documentation of the final days leading upto the third and final Shani Snan (royal bath) of the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela.

  • Strange World

The Sea was green and the Sky was pink and then I got really concerned and thought where the fuck am I? This is not Tripadvisors number one destination? And then it dawned on me. I was in a STRANGE WORLD.

An inter-dimensional road trip along the Strange Great Ocean Road.

  • The Glass Menagerie

A series of country-specific photo journeys that look to work produced in countries represented by their national animal. They are arranged in the Zoo, ‘the Glass Menagerie’. These photo journeys are candid and expeditionary. They include

  • The Bull (Spain, 2019)

  • The Crane (Japan, 2019, 2017)

  • The Bear (Russia, 2016)

  • The Dolphin (Greece, 2019 - 2014)

  • The Dragon (China, 2015)

  • The Elephant (India, 2013)

  • The Kangaroo (Australia, Since 2003)

 

Exhibitions

2013 - Bird Shit (Group Show)

Publications

2018 - Open, BLOOM Publishing (AUS) ISBN: 978-0-9925523-7-4

2017 - Faces, Self-Published

2016/17 - Eastbound and Round, Issue 007 Yewth Mag

2015 - Strange World, Self-Published 

Future projects

Ash intends to publish photobooks ‘The Cult of Festavus’ and ‘All Roads Lead to Gazgolder’.