Photographer Mà¡rio Macilau uses the ‘language' of his craft to question society
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Loading... - Felix Mahama
- 19 Aug 2022
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Mário Macilau adjusts the contrast of a recent picture he captured. The simple yet striking image shows a boy covered in powder, taking part in a traditional religious ceremony. Macilau is searching for a delicate balance between black and white in the photo as he sheds light on the people living in the shadows of society.
The visual artist travels around his home country, capturing images of social and environmental issues. For Macilau, photography is “a very important tool to bring positive influence in the world,” he said, adding it’s about “the way people think, the way people see each other, the way people judge, the way people stereotype certain cultures.” Macilau, 38, uses his craft to question every aspect of society.
The focus of his long-term projects ranges from depicting how colonialism has impacted Mozambique’s architecture, to the preservation of the country’s ancient religious ceremonies, and the raw realities of marginalized groups. “We need to archive the social values that we have,” he said. “For the upcoming generation, they need to know where they’re coming from so they can know where they’re going.”Macilau’s art has been showcased around the world including group and solo exhibits in Lisbon, London, and New York City.
As a child, he spent several years living on the street in the Mozambican capital of Maputo, where he worked to financially support his family before becoming an award-winning photographer.Behind the lens with Mozambican photographer Mário Macilau He says he discovered his passion for photography when he was 14 years old: “For me, photography was a toy. Read More...
