honorable mention
Matei Focseneanu switzerland
title
« Ici c’est l’aquarium, dehors c’est l’océan »
Apparel take on a significant role in this project especially that the Swiss law does not allow prisoners' faces to be shown in pictures nor to be recognized. The overall goal is to use the visual richness of the outfits to allow the inmates to expand the possibilities of their body language and expression.
Thus, this project aims at the visibilization of women inmates, which is heavily lacking today. By enabling an inner voice, which their bodies articulate through garments, I seek to reclaim and restore their self-image and identity.
Back from this trip, the will of studying this art led me to the visual communication photographic course taught at the CEPV school in Vevey, Switzerland. Here, fed by many incredible encounters and a growing interest for garment, my practice turned toward fashion photography.
After two years of study, extended by one year to achieve all legal authorizations needed to produce my work, I got my diploma with the project "Ici c'est l'aquarium, dehors c'est l'océan". This is the result of several shooting sessions with convicts inside a Swiss prison, wearing clothing made by three fashion designers from the HEAD school in Geneva, Switzerland.
back to gallery
entry description
This project arose from a desire to give a voice to those located on the invisible margins of society - female inmates. To avoid a stigmatizing approach, my project invites these women to express themselves through a visual language, both corporal and oneiric, in stark contrast to penitentiary discretion: that of fashion photography.Apparel take on a significant role in this project especially that the Swiss law does not allow prisoners' faces to be shown in pictures nor to be recognized. The overall goal is to use the visual richness of the outfits to allow the inmates to expand the possibilities of their body language and expression.
Thus, this project aims at the visibilization of women inmates, which is heavily lacking today. By enabling an inner voice, which their bodies articulate through garments, I seek to reclaim and restore their self-image and identity.
about the photographer
After having experienced several activities as being a political activist, a death metal singer or a computer engineer, I finally turned to photography after a journey in Lebanon where I spent number of hours wandering with my camera through the pacified nights of an overheated city.Back from this trip, the will of studying this art led me to the visual communication photographic course taught at the CEPV school in Vevey, Switzerland. Here, fed by many incredible encounters and a growing interest for garment, my practice turned toward fashion photography.
After two years of study, extended by one year to achieve all legal authorizations needed to produce my work, I got my diploma with the project "Ici c'est l'aquarium, dehors c'est l'océan". This is the result of several shooting sessions with convicts inside a Swiss prison, wearing clothing made by three fashion designers from the HEAD school in Geneva, Switzerland.
back to gallery