Introduction.
“For me, being a woman and being a photographer means giving importance to my perspective, understanding the place it holds in society, and realizing how essential it is to create spaces for feminine energy and vision in the world.” Lucía Alonso Herranz.
Empowerment Through Lens: Uniting Female Perspectives.
In a world where narratives often fail to capture the breadth of female experiences, "Empowerment Through Lens" emerges as a beacon of female voices, stories, and visions. This exhibition brings together five remarkable female photographers from diverse corners of the globe, each wielding their camera as a tool for empowerment, advocacy, and celebration. Despite their differing backgrounds and geographical locations, these artists are bound by a shared mission: to illuminate the untold stories of women and FLINTA individuals (females, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender) through their captivating imagery.
About the Exhibition.
"Voces de Mujers—Reclaiming Our Space" on April 13, 2024.
The exhibition, which was part of the main event "Voces de Mujers—Reclaiming Our Space, was an empowering and thought-provoking event aimed at highlighting the often overlooked contributions of women throughout history and in contemporary society. And featuring the work of five talented female photographers added a visual dimension to the event, capturing diverse perspectives on womanhood, empowerment, and societal challenges. Their compelling images enriched the atmosphere, sparking meaningful conversations and reflections among attendees.
The Photographers.
We were privileged to host an event featuring five remarkable female photographers from Spain and Germany. They showcased their work, delving into the profound meanings and representations behind each piece.
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Biography .
Diana Abdo, originally from Crimea, Ukraine, and now calling Berlin home, approaches photography with a profound appreciation for the genuine essence of human beings. Her lens serves as a conduit for capturing individuals as they perceive themselves, celebrating their unique authenticity and inner radiance. Through her work, she invites viewers to witness the innate beauty within each person, challenging societal norms and nurturing a deeper appreciation for diversity and self-expression.
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Biography .
Jaqueline Larsen, hailing from Argentina but residing in Madrid, Spain, infuses her photographs with a poignant exploration of femininity, identity, and societal constructs. Her lens captures the resilience and beauty of women amidst the backdrop of urban landscapes, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of womanhood.
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Biography .
Lisa-Sophie Kempke, based in Berlin, Germany, approaches her photography with a keen eye for the intersectionality of identities and experiences. Her vibrant compositions and thought-provoking visuals challenge conventional notions of gender and power dynamics, amplifying the voices of those often marginalized and silenced.
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Biography .
Lucía Alonso Herranz, based in Madrid, Spain, employs her photography as a tool for social commentary and introspection. Through her intimate portraits and candid snapshots, she sheds light on the multifaceted experiences of women navigating personal and collective struggles, offering a glimpse into the human condition.
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Biography .
Vanessa Martins, coming from Venezuela, brings her unique perspective to the exhibition with a distinct visual storytelling approach. Her photographs unveil the intricacies of everyday life, celebrate the strength and resilience of women in the face of adversity, and capture their essence and soul. Currently studying contemporary dance, Vanessa intertwines her passion for movement with her visual storytelling.
What does it mean to be a woman
and a photographer?
Diana Abdo.
For the longest time, I didn't think being a woman really affected my work or creativity. It wasn't until I hit my early twenties and moved to a big city that I realised how much my gender shaped my perspective. Life's experiences, both poignant and joyful, broadened my perspective and enriched my creativity. As a woman in today's world, I confront daily battles against the stereotypes and expectations perpetuated by social media and traditional outlets.
As I tried to find my own style and did numerous photoshoots with "ordinary" individuals without professional modelling backgrounds, I discovered something special. The best part of being a photographer for me was seeing someone look at their picture and say, "That's me! That's the real me!" That's what I'm after with my camera—capturing the natural beauty of people.
People, particularly everyday women, inspire me. These resilient, intelligent, and beautiful women living their ordinary lives, narrating their stories through their uniquely captivating faces, are a wellspring of inspiration. You don't see many stories about these kinds of women in the media or fashion world. They usually focus on a fantasy world of perfection that's out of reach for most of us. This is why I find the most satisfaction in working with the girl next door, unraveling her beauty through my lens, and showcasing her uniqueness and beauty to the world. I dream of a creative industry devoid of the mystique and gatekeeping that currently exist, where art becomes a universal form of communication accessible to all, regardless of gender, age, or ethnic background. That's why I'm on a mission to create opportunities for as many creative individuals as possible, utilising my skills in photography and film production to give their stories voices.
Diana’s images that were exhibited at the event.
Jaqueline Larsen
This series depict my closest friends from my hometown, Necochea (Argentina), in their new role (to me) of mothers with their respective children. After being four years away from my country, I returned to realise that all of them became mothers, unlike me. Necochea is a small town in the south of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast, in Argentina. The town is pretty static; it hasn't changed in many years, and you can see the buildings' decay. It has wide beaches and an important port as it is located at the mouth of the Quequén Grande River and the Argentine Sea. I have always had a love-hate relationship with Necochea and eventually decided that it was best for my personal growth and career to leave town, as many young people does. But the rest of my childhood friends stayed and built their life there, quickly becoming workers and then mothers. This project aims to put into perspective and reflect on how women in certain territories are conditioned to meet certain standards of what adult life should be. Through these images, I try to get a bit closer to this stage of many women’s life, which has always terrified me, and document how the female body changes and adapts to this new role. It is also a tribute to my hometown, which has always generated mixed feelings in me.
For me, being a female photographer means being able to tell stories that are both sensitive and yet important and meaningful. I also believe that being photographed by a woman can feel more natural; being really observed by someone and maybe feeling vulnerable is easier when there’s a woman behind the camera, because we know what it feels like to feel vulnerable too, and we tend to be comfortable with intimacy. I choose my subjects depending on the work I want to do. In fashion, I look for people with strange beauties or that have a distinctive quality, something that makes you want to see more… In documentary projects, I work mostly with people with whom I have a personal bond, like family members or close friends. The themes that I usually work with are family, womanhood, identity, the body, and its relationship with the environment, always from a poetic point of view. As a woman, both in general and in the creative industry, I wish for the same opportunities as everyone else has and to be able to still have my own voice while working for someone else.
Jaqueline’s images that were exhibited at the event.
Lisa-Sophie Kempke.
Being a female photographer has often meant having fewer opportunities for me. I witnessed male photographers and producers passing jobs among themselves, while the only cisgender man who had hired me so far was a gay friend. Today, the situation is different, but it took a long time and was probably harder because of my identity as a female photographer. Now, I see the supportive and predominantly female network that I've built, realizing its strength and how much it empowers me. This fills me with pride and optimism for the future. I want to shed light on areas of my work that, from my experience, don't receive enough attention while maintaining a sense of lightness; the focus is on the beautiful. This includes celebrating the beauty found within queerness and all expressions of gender.
When the media discusses queerness, it frequently centers on themes of love, relationships, or legal matters, lacking in thematic diversity. Why not delve into what makes queer friendships uniquely special, the vital role allies play in the lives of queer individuals, or what safer spaces mean to marginalized people? I want to create such a strong FLINTA (females, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender) network around me so that I can exist alongside the patriarchy. I am very aware that there will be no equality in my lifetime. That is my version of a free life.
Lisa-Sophie Kempke is a Berlin-based photographer and photojournalist capturing female and queer people and their culture worldwide. Together with project partner Sophia Emmerich, she has produced queer photo and video series’ since 2021. QUEER PLATONIC highlights the beauty of queer friendships, while MY BEST ALLY, which was originally produced for Netflix's queer hub in Berlin, emphasizes the importance of support from outside the LGBTQIA community by showcasing queer individuals with their favorite ally. The projects were exhibited in cities like London, New York City, Berlin, Barcelona and recently Los Angeles.
Lisa’s images that were exhibited at the event.
Lucía Alonso Herranz.
I cannot separate myself from the fact of being a woman and having socialized from that perspective, which reflects in all aspects of my life. That's why I also strive to pay attention to issues that concern me as a woman, primarily freedom and accepting the body as it is, a perception influenced by the complexes and beauty standards imposed on us. The naked female body doesn't necessarily have to be sexualized. The freedom of our nudity is often censored. Beyond the societal connotations that constrain us, who am I? How do I see and perceive others? What is my vision? Which magical moments do we want to preserve?. It's crucial to me how I make the people I photograph feel, especially other women. People, gestures, light, colors, the composition of an image, and the moments we live that become memories when I capture a photo that I know will last, inspire me. My most cherished photographs belong to stories of my life. I don't feel inclined to create meticulously planned photographs; I prefer to flow with the magic of the moment.
The message I aim to convey is more about the experience, where this photograph transports you, and what it communicates, rather than the superficiality of achieving perfection, looking good in a photo, or pretending something. On the contrary, amidst the sea of content that social media represents, I always want to return to that pure place born out of sharing. Photography has been my companion since I was very young; even though I professionalized it a decade ago, it has been with me for about twenty years. I've needed to see myself through it and to see others. I've needed to search for landscapes, life, and color with it. It has accompanied me in all significant moments and is a tool that allows me to find magic in the small details, which are truly important. It allows me to heal and return to love (self-love and love for others).
My way of seeing is also beyond the camera, so it's always connected to me, whether I have a camera at hand or not. I have much to thank photography for—my faithful and constant companion that I'll never abandon. And I wish the world would listen to us a little more.
Lucia’s images that were exhibited at the event.
Vanessa Martins
In a world where women's voices and perspectives have historically been marginalized, photography is, for me, an artistic practice where I express my vital needs and seek my own language. I enjoy exploring the relationship between the inner and outer worlds through imagination and emotions, so in my images, I like to capture the essence of people or places and tell a story. Being a female photographer is also an act of vindication and empowerment, showing that women are not only capable of capturing the complexity of the world through their lenses but also of transforming it and being recognized and valued within the history of contemporary photography. It was in Venezuela, when I entered university, that I started with photography. I decided to study audiovisuals specifically for film, and one of the subjects they taught was photography. The beauty of the subject was that they taught analog photography, and that's when I had my first direct contact with an analog camera. Even more beautiful was that there was a laboratory where they taught you to develop film. That's when my love for photography appeared. In fact, throughout my career, I spent my free time in that lab, and it filled me immensely. Analog photography has something very special for me: first, the few possibilities you have with each shot require our full attention, making you value what you do much more; second, the time and process you have to go through in developing each photo, each step is like magic; and third, it's the famous grain and the charm of "imperfection.
" And for all these reasons, I decided to dedicate myself to photography, because of everything it generates in me. Each work I have done has been different because we are beings who evolve, and therefore our feelings also evolve. I work based on my needs, and inspiration comes from within me, from digging deep within myself. I work through my personal needs and try to give space to that sensitivity. I can't create if I don't feel. Facundo Cabral used to say: "Everything you seek outside is inside you; there is no better creator than your brain, nor a better judge than your conscience." For example, in my self-portrait work that I have been doing for 7 years, it has allowed me to prolong the emergence of all my emotions. It allows me to observe myself and then understand myself. It is a process that facilitates the construction of my being over time, in transformation. And when I work with other people, I always try to capture their essence and soul. I like a photograph to have strength and to have something to say.
Gender inequality persists in the cultural and creative industries, when it is considered that there has been a totally equal gender balance, but it is not. I think it is important to review the power or responsibilities assigned to each group. Not to mention the lesser access to the same opportunities with the same professional worth. Women continue to be a minority in high-level job positions, and the gender gap in the audiovisual industry needs to be addressed. Fostering female leadership in the creative industry is vital and positive, and we need to support the new generations of girls who dream, educate, and promote from homes and schools that it is not only important but necessary.
Vanessa’s images that were exhibited at the event.
