Marinka Masseus: Socially Engaged Art by Conceptual Photographer

Artistic Background

     Marinka Masséus is a young conceptual photographer based in the Netherlands. She finished MBA in Amsterdam and with the support of the Photo Academy Marinka started to photograph and “talk” about her emotions and thoughts in an artistic way. Her work concerns those who are stigmatized and rejected from society – abused women, rejected children and all individuals or groups who are not accepted in their community.

Social Justice and Equality in the Photography Work of Marinka Masséus

Marinka Masseus interest in photography happened when she was 9 years old. Her first shoots were with her father’s camera. During the college days, as an amateur photographer, Marinka always brought the camera on her travels. She finally decided to enroll at the Photo Academy in Amsterdam and grow her talent.

Marinka succeeded to unite and express her deepest thoughts about human nature and the way how to combat with the many sorts of social oppression. Her work emphasizes the importance of social justice and equality and that is the main force that pushes her in photography work. She realizes that we are all a part of the same culture – sometimes cruel and abusive with those who are not “the same”, but she found an artistic approach to fight for equality and dignity.

The Powerful Photo Series Confronting Us with the Need to Fight for Freedom

Marinka Masséus takes photos with the agenda to support those who are stigmatized and give them space in artistic photography. The photographer is mostly focused on gender issues and the way how to show and raise the importance of these problems. With the series of photos “My Stealthy Freedom Iran“, Marinka highlights women’s right to choose to be or not to be “seen”. But, the women rights are not the only thing she works on. Her recent series of photos “Chosen [not] to be” makes children with the Down’s Syndrome visible in the society. This series is a part of an international photography project, Radical Beauty project, that tries to provide people with Down’s syndrome the legitimate place in both – the visual arts and in society.

“Under the Same Sun” represents albino people and everyday problems they confront in Tanzania. Against abuse of the albinos, approved and deep-rooted in beliefs and everyday practice, Marinka fights and shows the necessity to support their struggle. Her photos represent children with albinism with their peers, showing the natural beauty and strength of them.

Marinka’s photos are all about people and their place in the world. Her inspiration comes from her freedom – to see, to feel and listen to her instincts and recognize the necessity to speak through art and for the others.